A marvellous mercantile map of Melbourne

A marvellous mercantile map of Melbourne

November 19, 2012

Cities & towns, Such was life:

The most complete popular & mercantile map of Melbourne, Victoria was produced by Frederick Proeschel in the early 1850s. Proeschel describes the map as ‘giving most useful information as to… Read More ›

Stop, Repair, Prepare: the Dome receives a birthday present

Stop, Repair, Prepare: the Dome receives a birthday present

November 16, 2012

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

To celebrate the centenary of our beautiful Domed Reading Room (aka. the LaTrobe Reading Room), the Library is kickstarting a full year of celebrations in 2013 this month with a… Read More ›

Forgotten Australians and former child migrants

November 15, 2012

Family matters, Research guides, Research tips & tricks:

Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the National apology to Forgotten Australians and former child migrants. ‘Forgotten Australians’ is a term the Australian Senate has used to describe children who… Read More ›

View the 2012 Keith Murdoch Oration delivered by the Honourable Paul Keating, former Prime Minister

November 15, 2012

Family history events, News, Talks, Uncategorized:

View the 2012 Keith Murdoch Oration that was delivered by the Honourable Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia, last night. A copy of his oration follows.

The Argus newspaper in colour

The Argus newspaper in colour

November 13, 2012

Social life & customs, Such was life:

On Monday 28 July 1952, the Melbourne Argus became the first newspaper in the world to print a high-speed action news picture in full colour. In what was a technological… Read More ›

New DVDs: Haydn, the New York Times, the Don & more.

New DVDs: Haydn, the New York Times, the Don & more.

November 12, 2012

Film, Music, Rare Books & Arts:

New DVDs arriving into the collection include the following: In Search of Haydn: a film by Phil Grabsky   Michel Legrand and the cinema A classical and film composer are… Read More ›

Diggers’ diaries

Diggers’ diaries

November 11, 2012

Such was life, War:

‘Well I have been to gay Paris and all I can say is it is wonderful…Melbourne is like the smallest of bush towns compared with it, wishing that dear old… Read More ›

Early closure on Wednesday 14 November

November 9, 2012

About us, Announcements, Collection, Education, Exhibitions, Family history events, Grants, Library services, News, Opening hours, Search, Talks, Uncategorized, Updates:

The Library will close at 5pm on Wednesday 14 November due to a major event, the Keith Murdoch Oration. You can watch a live webcast of the oration by the Honourable… Read More ›

Kaldor Public Art Project #26 perfomances in the library

November 9, 2012

About us, Announcements, Education, Exhibitions, Family history events, Library services, News, Uncategorized, Updates:

Kaldor Public Art Project #26 is a public art performance which is being presented in the Cowen Gallery from 16 November to 6 December. The Library is proud to host this… Read More ›

That’s why they’re called the “funny pages”! A favourite thing…..

That’s why they’re called the “funny pages”! A favourite thing…..

November 7, 2012

Comic books, Rare Books & Arts:

An occasional series highlighting a favourite item from the collection. Forgotten fantasy, Sunday comics 1900-1915 : visions from Lyonel Feininger, Winsor McCay and many more: edited by Peter Maresca  … 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.