Echuca’s anniversary

Echuca’s anniversary

September 2, 2014

Cities & towns, Such was life:

In 1864 the railway connecting Melbourne to Echuca opened. This had an enormous effect on the town, with the resultant increase in trade turning Echuca into Australia’s largest inland port.

It’s a book Jim, but not as we know it; new ebooks in Arts

It’s a book Jim, but not as we know it; new ebooks in Arts

August 28, 2014

Film, Music, New books, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts, Television:

Our collection of ebooks continues to grow, and these are just a few of my current personal favourites; I can’t wait to get home to read them! You can too… Read More ›

Lost in translation: anecdotes of family history research in Africa, Turkey and Sicily

Lost in translation: anecdotes of family history research in Africa, Turkey and Sicily

August 26, 2014

Family History Feast 2014, Family matters:

The second presenter of Family History Feast was Diana Hookham, with her talk ‘Lost in translation: anecdotes of family history research in Africa, Turkey and Sicily’. Diana’s husband comes from… Read More ›

More than suitcases: collecting migrant stories at Museum Victoria

More than suitcases: collecting migrant stories at Museum Victoria

August 25, 2014

Family History Feast 2014, Family matters:

Kicking the ball off rolling in this year’s Family History Feast was Dr Moya McFadzean’s (Museum Victoria) presentation ‘More than suitcases: collecting migrant stories at Museum Victoria’ and what a… Read More ›

Family History Feast 2014 is here

Family History Feast 2014 is here

August 25, 2014

Family History Feast 2014, Family matters:

Good morning all! Today is Family History Feast day and we have a great program lined up for you. This year’s event includes presentations by the State Library, Public Record… Read More ›

New DVDs: Reef, Seashore, Shrek & Vali.

New DVDs: Reef, Seashore, Shrek & Vali.

August 23, 2014

Dance, Music, Musicals, Painting, Performing Arts, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts, Television, Visual arts:

New DVDs arriving into the collection include the following releases in rock, popular and classical music, opera, dance, musical theatre, televison variety and visual arts. Gene Kelly : anatomy of a… Read More ›

Melbourne’s historic skyline

Melbourne’s historic skyline

August 19, 2014

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

Melbourne’s skyline developed rapidly once the first passenger lifts were installed. The L. Stevenson & Sons warehouse in Flinders Lane had two of the first hydraulic goods lifts installed in… Read More ›

Victor Hugo, Rigoletto and a charming battleship

Victor Hugo, Rigoletto and a charming battleship

August 15, 2014

Film, Music, Rare Books & Arts:

  With the State Library’s major exhibition, Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage, currently showing, I thought it might be timely to delve into just a few… Read More ›

War and the arts: strange bedfellows

War and the arts: strange bedfellows

August 8, 2014

Music, Painting, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

 And the band played on: by Robert Holden (ebook) Robert Holden is undoubtedly one of our finest social and cultural historians, and this recent book is a timely examination of… Read More ›

Musicals in Town

Musicals in Town

August 3, 2014

Music, Musicals, Rare Books & Arts:

Wicked  : original Broadway cast recording : a new musical: music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.   The King and I : original cast album: music by Richard Rodgers ;… Read More ›

Such was life

Feasts of Christmas past

Feasts of Christmas past

December 15, 2025 2 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.