Collection spotlights

Armchair travel with State Library Victoria

Armchair travel with State Library Victoria

May 5, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Research tips:

After over a year of international travel restrictions and domestic border closures, many of us are longing for a holiday. State Library Victoria collections can take you to faraway places – and back in time – without leaving your home.

Golden elms beside the bowling green, Ireland St. Bright.

Bright: a town for all seasons

April 27, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

In normal times, the final week of April into the first week of May would see the Victorian town of Bright celebrating its Autumn Festival. Sadly, due to the pandemic, the festival was not able to run last year and has also been cancelled for this year. To mark the occasion, we take a look back over previous festivals and the history of the Town of Bright through some of the Library’s wonderful digitised images

‘Put out that light!’ Brownout Melbourne during World War II

‘Put out that light!’ Brownout Melbourne during World War II

March 1, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

In 1942, amidst fears of aerial enemy attack, Melbourne’s homefront was in the grip of brownout. These were tumultuous times, and the city hummed with wartime preparations, and thousands of American service personnel. At the same time, a killer stalked in the shadows.

The scientists and the cricket match

The scientists and the cricket match

January 5, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Victorian history:

In March 1874, Melbourne played host to an unusual cricket match, featuring some of the most pre-eminent marine biologists in the world.

Melbourne’s first newspaper

Melbourne’s first newspaper

January 1, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

On New Year’s Day, 1838, pioneer John Pascoe Fawkner published Melbourne’s first newspaper. Printing presses were scarce in the colony, so Fawkner handwrote the newspaper himself…

Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight

December 21, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

This cherished Aussie Christmas institution is now in its 85th year, and still bringing people together across the nation.

by Cassandra Austen,drawing,circa 1810

The everlasting influence of Jane Austen

December 7, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

To celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday we look at how she continues to influence popular culture and explore the library’s collection of Jane Austen related material.

Getting your hands dirty with State Library Victoria

Getting your hands dirty with State Library Victoria

December 3, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Research tips:

The sun is shining, time to get out in the garden! There are plenty of resources at State Library Victoria to help develop your green thumb.

The punk and alternative music scenes of St Kilda (and Melbourne) in the 1970s and 1980s

The punk and alternative music scenes of St Kilda (and Melbourne) in the 1970s and 1980s

November 30, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Victorian history:

The Seaview Hotel in St Kilda became a spiritual home of Melbourne’s punk and alternative music scene in the 1970s and 1980s, initially due to an administrative error.

World Philosophy Day

World Philosophy Day

November 16, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:

It’s World Philosophy Day. Dive into our extensive philosophy collections to be challenged and inspired by thinkers of the past and present.