Cloud watching: how we came to understand the weather
People love talking about the weather. How many times have you heard someone say “Crazy weather we’re having, hey?” in the past week (or said it yourself)?
Our stories
8 women from Australia’s history you should know
The effect Australia’s women have had on our country is undeniable yet oft-forgotten. That’s why we’re taking March—Women’s History Month—to look back and share the stories of women from our past.
Say it with scorn: Vinegar valentines from the collection
Rejection rather than affection was the theme of early 19th-century paper valentines.
Inside the lab: How we prepare for an exhibition
Collection Care, Conservation, Our stories, Registration and loans:
The Library’s Conservation department works behind-the-scenes to ensure all collection and loan material selected for an exhibition is prepared and installed to a museum standard. The recent installation of ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR was no exception.
The last residential caretaker
George Swain, the State Library’s last residential caretaker sadly passed away this week. A WWII veteran, he brought up a family of six children in an apartment on the roof of the Library’s dome, living there until the early 80s. In a post he wrote for the dome centenary in 2013, George reminisces about bringing up his family on the roof of the Library.
Hack Christmas with State Library Victoria’s collection
Searching for the perfect Christmas wrapping paper? Dreaming of DIY decorations with a literary twist? We’re here to help! We’ve combed the collection for festive images, prints and patterns to remix into Christmas crafts.
Preservation: caring for our collections
Collection Care, Our stories, Preventive conservation:
The Library’s Preservation team work to ensure the ongoing care, preservation and access of our collections. Here the team bring you inside their work, from the quarantine room where items are checked for pests and mould, to the preservation studio where an average of 50,000 items are re-housed in any given year.
The Rhonda Senbergs photographic collection
In this guest post, Jes and Selena Senbergs share the story behind the remarkable collection of photographs taken by their mother, Rhonda Senbergs. Rhonda Senbergs photographed Melbourne’s art world scene for… Read More ›
150 years of The Press dress
On 20 September 1866 Mrs Matilda Butters attended the Mayor’s Fancy Dress Ball in the new exhibition buildings as ‘The Press’. Designed by local dressmaker Mrs William Dobbs, the costume was constructed of silk panels printed with the front pages different Melbourne newspapers.
Henry Lawson: Mementos of a difficult man
In mid-2003 the State Library formally acquired the Australian writer Henry Lawson’s walking stick and shirt. On the anniversary of his death, we take a closer look at these items.
