‘Iceberg’ Irvine and the Kyabram Movement
Our stories, Victorian history:
In late 1901, locals in Kyabram found a common cause in government extravagance. Politician William ‘Iceberg’ Irvine saw an opportunity in aligning with the Kyabram Movement.
Victorian history
Riverside delights on the Yarra
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Ratty, Wind in the Willows. A relic of a time when much of early Melbourne’s leisure and recreational activity revolved around the Birrarung | Yarra river, the Studley Park boathouse is the oldest continually operating boathouse on the Yarra, possibly the oldest in Victoria.
Lion at large on Little Collins
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
A lion wandering down Little Collins Street? Not something you see every day, but this is exactly the scene that Melburnians witnessed on the 11th of February 1911 after a magic trick did not go quite as planned.
Captain Kenney’s bathing ship
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
There were several ‘sea baths’ at St Kilda in the 19th century, but none were more famous than Captain Kenney’s bathing ship, the Nancy.
Play the Game: Summer beach camps
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
A stronger, more inclusive society. This was the vision for the Lord Somers and Lord Mayor’s camps, bringing children from all corners of Victoria, and all walks of life together for summer seaside adventures.
Glimpses of life in and around Pentridge Stockade
Our stories, Victorian history:
Pentridge Stockade housed men, women and children for nearly 150 years, as the suburb of Coburg developed around the bluestone edifice.
The people’s playground: Eastern Beach, Geelong
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Wander down to Geelong’s Eastern Beach on a hot day over summer and you’ll be greeted by a huge crowd of sun seekers.
How to train your Santa
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Have you spotted Santa in a department store lately? There’s more to being Santa than you might think! Let’s take a look at the history of department store Santas and explore what they learn at Santa School.
Journey through the collection: Ashton’s 19th century sketchbook
Collection spotlights, Victorian history, Visual arts:
A little sketchbook with a lot of stories. How did the newsworthy events of the 1880s go from pocket sketches to newspaper illustrations?
Australia’s own car
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
On 29 November, 1948, the first Holden motor car was unveiled at General Motors Holden (GMH). The launch of the Holden was a watershed moment for the nation: it represented the first time a motor vehicle had been wholly built in Australia.
