Large suspension formation by members of the Ebenezer Gym Club

Sporting days – how to research your sporting ancestors

February 3, 2021

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Sport is a huge part of community life and sporting club records can provide another dimension to your family history. They can help to locate a person in a place,… Read More ›

The All England 11 about to embark for Australia. Mr Mallam, the top-headed gentleman behind the players, was the agent for Spiers and Pond

The All England 11 and the birth of Australian cricket

February 1, 2021

Our stories:

In 1861 the great tradition of England and Australian cricket contests commenced when the first English team arrived in Australia.

There’s more to the roll! Part 2. Commonwealth electoral rolls, post-federation years

There’s more to the roll! Part 2. Commonwealth electoral rolls, post-federation years

January 28, 2021

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Federal electoral rolls are used extensively by family historians, helping us to piece together the lives of our families. But sometimes our forebears are not listed on these rolls –… Read More ›

There’s more to the roll! Part 1. Victorian electoral rolls, pre-federation years

There’s more to the roll! Part 1. Victorian electoral rolls, pre-federation years

January 12, 2021

Family matters, Research tips & tricks:

Australian electoral rolls contain minimal information, yet they are one of the most valuable and frequently used resources by family historians, who use them extensively to trace the whereabouts of people over… Read More ›

The scientists and the cricket match

The scientists and the cricket match

January 5, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories, Victorian history:

In March 1874, Melbourne played host to an unusual cricket match, featuring some of the most pre-eminent marine biologists in the world.

Melbourne’s first newspaper

Melbourne’s first newspaper

January 1, 2021

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

On New Year’s Day, 1838, pioneer John Pascoe Fawkner published Melbourne’s first newspaper. Printing presses were scarce in the colony, so Fawkner handwrote the newspaper himself…

Bushfires: protecting your treasures

Bushfires: protecting your treasures

December 22, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation, Preservation:

It’s bushfire season again. How can you reduce the risk of loss of treasured objects before a disaster and what sort of salvage strategies can you use to recover them? If you live in an area where bushfire is an all too real possibility, it’s never too soon to start planning for their preservation.

Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight

December 21, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

This cherished Aussie Christmas institution is now in its 87th year, and still bringing people together across the nation.

Constitution Hill at

Conservation rejuvenates ‘Constitution Hill at Sun set’

December 15, 2020

Collection Care, Conservation:

During the Library closure, Collection Care had the opportunity of attending to the conservation treatment of one of the Library’s iconic paintings, Constitution Hill by colonial artist John Glover. Recent conservation treatment has transformed its appearance and inspired a new appreciation of this important work.

by Cassandra Austen,drawing,circa 1810

The everlasting influence of Jane Austen

December 7, 2020

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

To celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday we look at how she continues to influence popular culture and explore the library’s collection of Jane Austen related material.

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.