Vale Claudio Abbado

Vale Claudio Abbado

January 24, 2014

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Claudio Abbado, one of the very greatest conductors of the modern era, sadly passed away this week after a long battle with illness. A true gentleman of the podium, he… Read More ›

ROME: Piranesi’s vision – a major exhibition of Italy’s master printmaker opens at State Library in February

ROME: Piranesi’s vision – a major exhibition of Italy’s master printmaker opens at State Library in February

January 21, 2014

Announcements, Exhibitions, News:

Rome: Piranesi’s vision, the largest Australian exhibition of work from one of Europe’s best known and respected printmakers, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, opens at the State Library of Victoria on 22… Read More ›

Gippsland watercolours

Gippsland watercolours

January 20, 2014

Arts & literature, Such was life:

Daniel Long’s sketchbook dates from 1856 and contains charming watercolours and pencil drawings depicting various locations in Gippsland.

New books: if you dare….

New books: if you dare….

January 17, 2014

Rare Books & Arts:

A mixed bag of new books hitting the shelves; just what I love! Circus and stage : the theatrical adventures of Rose Edouin and GBW Lewis by Mimi Colligan Mimi… Read More ›

Digitised Australian military records

Digitised Australian military records

January 16, 2014

Family matters:

A number of ongoing digitisation projects and website developments by Australian and New Zealand archive agencies means that family historians will now have greater access to the military records of their ancestors. Here are… Read More ›

Captain Cook’s cottage

Captain Cook’s cottage

January 15, 2014

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

Captain Cooks’ cottage, located in Fitzroy Gardens, was initially built by Captain Cook’s family in the town of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, England.

Shall we dance?

Shall we dance?

January 10, 2014

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Guest blogger extraordinaire, Jane, is inspired by some of the treasures in our sheet-music collection…… I am currently helping out with the sheet-music spreadsheet-cataloguing project (try saying that quickly!) in… Read More ›

SA postal directories going online

January 9, 2014

Family matters, Uncategorized:

For those of you like me researching South Australian family history you will be pleased to know that the State Library of South Australia is gradually making most of  the… Read More ›

Continental Cafe, Greville St, Prahran

Continental Cafe, Greville St, Prahran

January 8, 2014

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

The area on the eastern side of Prahran Station has a long history as a performance venue. In 1920 the famous Leggett’s Ballroom was built and became a dancing institution for decades to come. On the same site, The Continental Cafe at 134 Greville Street became a lynch pin in the Melbourne live music scene from 1993-2001.

New books for a new year

New books for a new year

January 2, 2014

New books, Painting, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

What better way to start the new year…..  Australia: curated by Anne Gray, Ron Radford, Kathleen Soriano et. al. This major show of Australian art at the Royal Academy in… Read More ›

Such was life

Feasts of Christmas past

Feasts of Christmas past

December 15, 2025 0 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.