A nation of immigrants
Learn about the history of immigration in Australia, from the First Fleet and the Gold Rush to WWI and the White Australia policy.
Our stories
Illustrated children’s books: Willy Pogany (1882-1955)
Willy Pogany (born Vilmos Andras Pogany) was a prolific contributor during the Golden Age of children’s book illustration, whose career broadened from children’s book illustration to portraiture and set designs for opera and ballet.
2018 in eresources
Take a look back at the 2018 additions to the Library’s eresources collection, as well as the most popular eresources for the year. Registered Victorian State Library members can access over 267,969 full text eresources – many from home.
Jessie Traill: An artist at war
During World War I Jessie Traill spent five years serving as a British Voluntary Aid Detachment. Her war experience is recorded through photographs, sketches, written accounts and letters to friends.
Look inside PANDORA to reveal a history of lost websites
The Library has been contributing PANDORA, Australia’s web archive, since 1998. Explore the weird and wonderful websites that have made their way into the collection over the past 20 years.
Remembering the Armistice, 100 years on
Guns on the Western Front fell silent one hundred years ago, at 11am on 11 November 1918, bringing to an end what we remember as the First World War.
Armistice Day captured in WWI diary
With the announcement of the World War I armistice on 11 November 1918, many soldiers felt both joy and disbelief. Stretcher-bearer Percy Samson captured it in his diary.
The three musketeers of the Golden Age of children’s book illustration
The Robinson brothers, Thomas, Charles and William Heath delighted in referring to themselves as the three musketeers. They spent much of their early adult life in their father’s studio and later shared studios with one another, all three establishing themselves as book illustrators.
2018 Victorian Community History Award winners announced
A book about the history of mental health during the gold rush in Victoria has been awarded top prize at the 2018 Victorian Community History Awards.
Travel guides for the discerning traveller
When you step outside your comfort zone to explore the world, suddenly a little book is the only safety blanket you’ve got. Whether the iconic red bindings of a Murray or Baedeker, or a dogeared Lonely Planet, travel guides have been clutched in the hands of discerning travellers the world over. Discover their varied forms in our collection.
