Ballarat Star, 10 July 1920

Post war play creates furore in Bendigo

June 21, 2016

Our stories:

On Saturday 3 July 1920, the play Advance Australia was staged at the Princess Theatre in Bendigo. Written by a local Catholic priest, John Joseph Kennedy, it would create a national furore.

Warner Music Australia, 2014

New Listening: Prince & Alice, Cleo & Callas, & much more

June 3, 2016

Film, Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Some great new music in Arts from pop to classical, and quite a few points in between.

Black Thursday, February 6th, 1851  
1864
oil on canvas; 106.5 x 343 cm
State Library of Victoria

Major retrospective of colonial artist William Strutt on show at State Library Victoria

June 2, 2016

News:

State Library Victoria will host Heroes and Villains: Strutt’s Australia, a major retrospective dedicated to the work of celebrated mid-nineteenth century artist, William Strutt (1825–1915). The exhibition opens to the public on 14 July 2016.

An ambrotype portrait of cadet Dabney Scales in US Naval Academy uniform, Maryland, c 1859-60, housed in its original hinge-split case, on top of Scales' Shenandoah diary, 1865

State Library seeks help to secure unique diary revealing Australia’s link to the American Civil War

May 29, 2016

News:

State Library Victoria is asking for the public’s help to purchase an extraordinary document that chronicles Australia’s involvement in the last year of the American Civil War – the ship diary of Lieutenant Dabney M Scales of the Confederate Steam Ship Shenandoah.

So, you want to be a librarian?

So, you want to be a librarian?

May 23, 2016

People & professions, Such was life:

From 1948 up until 1969, the Melbourne Public Library’s training school educated nearly 300 aspiring librarians. Many things have changed since then, but some things still remain the same…

New books with an American accent in Arts

New books with an American accent in Arts

May 20, 2016

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

An iconic American family of artists, a book of photographs capturing a lost place and time, an artist we should know better, and a lovely voice from Hollywood’s past.

550+ aerial photographs go online

550+ aerial photographs go online

May 17, 2016

News:

These photographs are part of the State Aerial Survey that was produced by the Department of Crown Lands & Survey between 1945-1965.

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

May 12, 2016

Our stories:

This week we’re celebrating our wonderful team of volunteers. From tour guides and storytellers to cataloguers and conservators, a small but extremely generous group of dedicated men and women donate their time, expertise and experience to the Library.

The Mallee

The Mallee

May 11, 2016

Cities & towns, Such was life:

‘I can readily imagine why most people speak of this part of the country with a certain dread for there is actually no grass and no water to be found.’

Engraved from the "Chandos" portrait by H.S. Sadd, 1860

Shakespeare 400

May 6, 2016

Music, Performing Arts, Rare Books & Arts, Theatre:

The works of William Shakespeare remain so fresh, and so fundamental to our culture, a mere 400 years after his death.

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.