Chung Ling Soo, the Marvellous Chinese Conjurer ALMA 93.2/34

The life and death of master magician Chung Ling Soo

September 20, 2017

Our stories, Performing Arts, Rare Books & Arts:

Magician William Ellsworth Robinson left behind his plain name and New York background and reinvented himself as the Chung Ling Soo, the Marvellous Chinese Conjurer, complete with an imaginative and fictitious life story, In the great days of vaudeville he achieved world fame and in 1909 embarked on a wildly successful tour of Australia and New Zealand. A decade later, still at the height of his career, Chung Ling Soo was mortally wounded on stage undertaking his sensational bullet catch trick.

Vale Agnes Nieuwenhuizen

Vale Agnes Nieuwenhuizen

September 19, 2017

News:

Australia’s YA community was deeply saddened to learn that Agnes Nieuwenhuizen passed away last week at her home in Woodend, Victoria.

Hoddinott family portrait, glass negative, c 1890–1910

New online family history course

September 19, 2017

Family history events, Family matters:

Interested in researching your Victorian family history? Why not try the Library’s new online family history course Branching out.

State Library Victoria and Redbubble #createarthistory together

State Library Victoria and Redbubble #createarthistory together

September 18, 2017

News:

State Library Victoria is opening up its collection to the world through a new partnership with global creative marketplace Redbubble. Artists around the world will be invited to participate in a major international competition to create new works that draw inspiration from the Library’s collection.

Mother Goose: or old nursery rhymes, illustrated by Kate Greenaway, engraved and printed by Edmund Evans, Frederick Warne and Co., London, [190?].

Illustrated children’s books: Kate Greenaway (1846-1901)

September 15, 2017

Our stories:

Kate Greenaway (1846–1901) was an English children’s book illustrator. She was a remarkable success during her lifetime, pleasing audiences with her form and originality.

Memorial collection honours victims of Bourke Street tragedy

Memorial collection honours victims of Bourke Street tragedy

September 14, 2017

News:

The survivors and families of those impacted by the Bourke Street tragedy this morning viewed a collection of the thousands of cards, soft toys and condolence messages left by Melburnians and visitors after the devastating incident on 20 January 2017.

Meet the curators behind our exhibitions

Meet the curators behind our exhibitions

September 13, 2017

News:

Is there anything you’ve ever wanted to know about our exhibitions? Maybe you’ve wondered how we sort through our massive collection to put things on display, or you’ve seen something you want to know more about. Now’s the best time to find out.

Songs that sound like blood by Jared Thomas, Seahorse by Bruce Pascoe, Mrs Whitlam by Bruce Pascoe

Indigenous Children’s Books

September 6, 2017

Our stories:

Today, Indigenous Literacy Day, we celebrate Indigenous authored and illustrated children’s books on a range of topics.

Hansen Little Foundation gives $3.5 million gift of connection

Hansen Little Foundation gives $3.5 million gift of connection

September 4, 2017

News:

Victorians are set to benefit from two exciting new spaces at State Library Victoria, thanks to a $3.5 million donation from Australian business leaders and philanthropists Jane Hansen and Paul Little AO.

Ruth Hollick and early Australian fashion photography

Ruth Hollick and early Australian fashion photography

August 30, 2017

Arts & literature, Such was life:

Ruth Hollick is noted for her portraits of children and of Melbourne society’s elite as well as creating some of the earliest known fashion photographs in Australia.

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.