Merry Christmas and happy new year to all!

Merry Christmas and happy new year to all!

December 24, 2012

Rare Books & Arts:

Christmas and the Ashes

Christmas and the Ashes

December 24, 2012

Sport, Such was life:

One of world sport’s most famous trophies, cricket’s Ashes urn, was presented for the first time on 24 December 1882.

‘Death ballots’: Australia’s World War I conscription referendums

‘Death ballots’: Australia’s World War I conscription referendums

December 19, 2012

Such was life, War:

On 28 October 1916 the first of two controversial conscription referendums was held in Australia. Military training for men between 18 and 60 had been compulsory since 1911, but the… Read More ›

A new sheet music collection; worth singing about!

A new sheet music collection; worth singing about!

December 19, 2012

Music, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts:

As the year draws to a close I thought it might be a good opportunity to show off a new collection of sheet music that we now have available via… Read More ›

Search our catalogue on your mobile phone

Search our catalogue on your mobile phone

December 17, 2012

About us, Announcements, Collection, Education, Library services, News, Opening hours, Search, Updates:

Designed for people wanting to search the Library’s collection while on the move, this cut-down version of our online desktop catalogue allows you to search our catalogue on  your mobile… Read More ›

18 years old and in charge of the ship

18 years old and in charge of the ship

December 13, 2012

People & professions, Such was life:

The British barque Trafalgar docked at Williamstown on 16 December 1893 after a harrowing voyage. Several of the senior officers had died from fever on the journey, and the charge… Read More ›

New books, and not a piano in sight!

New books, and not a piano in sight!

December 12, 2012

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

It’s been a while since I’ve done a new-books post, what with Australian Music Month, Melbourne Music Week, and the Kaldor Art Project demanding our attention. So let’s get back… Read More ›

Pioneer portraits

Pioneer portraits

December 11, 2012

People & professions, Such was life:

Born in London, Thomas Chuck came to Melbourne in 1863 and opened a photography studio in Royal Arcade, Collins Street.

2012 – the year that was for the Genealogy Team!

2012 – the year that was for the Genealogy Team!

December 10, 2012

Family matters, Uncategorized:

A very active year  : 31 March   Participation in the annual Shake Your Family Tree Day organised by National Archives of Australia 28-31 March 13th Australasian Congress on Genealogy & Heraldry Your… Read More ›

Listening Post Sounds: Angels, Follies, Wiggles & more…

Listening Post Sounds: Angels, Follies, Wiggles & more…

December 6, 2012

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Some recent CD arrivals feature on the Listening Posts in Arts. The online catalogue indicates which Listening Post the CD is available on. There are eight jukebox listening posts in… Read More ›

Such was life

On the case: Detective Piggott and the development of forensics

On the case: Detective Piggott and the development of forensics

November 3, 2025 11 comments

The early 1900s was an exciting time to be a detective. Innovations in science and technology, combined with the popularity of detective stories shifted crime fighting away from the seedy world of informers, which had influenced the early years of policing, towards the detection of crime using scientific methods and forensic evidence. Find out about how one Victorian detective contributed to the development of police forensics.

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.