Children take on family history

Children take on family history

March 20, 2014

Family history events, Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Lately, I’ve been noticing a lot of children in our Genealogy Centre. During school holidays in particular, the centre is buzzing with enthusiastic kids, helping their parents and grandparents research… Read More ›

Collectors, museums and curious cabinets…….

Collectors, museums and curious cabinets…….

March 20, 2014

Decorative arts, Painting, Rare Books & Arts:

The glorious Piranesi exhibition currently on show here at the State Library has me thinking about the whole passionate business of collecting. The British as art collectors : from the… Read More ›

Inky Awards longlist announced

Inky Awards longlist announced

March 20, 2014

Announcements, Education, Events, Family history events:

The 2014 Inky Awards longlist for peer-recommended, high quality young adult fiction has been announced by the Centre for Youth Literature (State Library of Victoria) at the Somerset Celebration of… Read More ›

News by telegraph; the 19th century internet

News by telegraph; the 19th century internet

March 18, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

On 21 October 1872 readers of Melbourne newspapers scanned the latest news from Europe. The reports included news that the Emperors of Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary had met to discuss… Read More ›

Rob Roy hill climb

Rob Roy hill climb

March 12, 2014

Sport, Such was life:

The Rob Roy hill climb is a car time trial in Smiths Gully, Victoria. It was initially established by the Light Car Club of Australia and began in 1937 and ran… Read More ›

Family History Feast 2014 : a date for your diary!

March 11, 2014

Family matters:

The 2014 Family History Feast is going to be held on Monday 25 August at the State Library of Victoria  from 10am to 4pm (exact times to be confirmed) during… Read More ›

Roman Holiday: Piranesi and the Grand Tour

Roman Holiday: Piranesi and the Grand Tour

March 6, 2014

Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

The Library’s new exhibition, Rome: Piranesi’s Vision, is now showing in the Keith Murdoch Gallery and is nothing short of splendid. Curated by Dr Colin Holden, it brings together material… Read More ›

Melbourne’s newest newspaper hits the streets Monday

Melbourne’s newest newspaper hits the streets Monday

February 28, 2014

Announcements, Grants, News:

This Monday The Melbourne Sirius will launch as Melbourne’s newest newspaper. It’s first edition will also be it’s last. The paper is a record of Melbourne’s rich newspaper history listing… Read More ›

The cooking class at the Melbourne home

Food in early Victoria

February 27, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Eating in Victoria was a different proposition for the Aborigines than for early Europeans.

New books: flashbacks, familiar faces and a bit of clowning around

New books: flashbacks, familiar faces and a bit of clowning around

February 25, 2014

New books, Rare Books & Arts:

Entertainers come in all shapes and sizes…….  All my flashbacks by Lewis Gilbert You may not recognise the name but if you are at any kind of film-buff at all… Read More ›

Such was life

Feasts of Christmas past

Feasts of Christmas past

December 15, 2025 2 comments

What are your favourite festive food memories? Have you ever enjoyed Christmas Day lunch on the beach, up a mountain or aboard a ship? Do you remember pineapple glazed ham? Would you like the 100-year-old recipe for walnut stuffing? The State Library’s historic menus, cookbooks, photos and magazines trace Christmas foods from early colonial tables to the festive flavours celebrated by our diverse migrant communities. Dive in and rediscover your favourite Christmas dishes — or find inspiration for this year’s feast.

Arts

Portraits of Melbourne artists in their studios

Portraits of Melbourne artists in their studios

December 8, 2025 0 comments

John Hinds, an artist, photographer and active ROAR member from 1986 to 1992 spent time capturing artists he personally knew and the spaces that they used to create their works. His photographs captured a unique and often unseen time and place, creating an invaluable insight into the art scene in Melbourne.