National Family History Month 2014

August 1, 2014

Family history events, Family matters:

Family matters is pleased to welcome our special guest blogger for August, Shauna Hicks, national coordinator of National Family History Month. August is National Family History Month in Australia which… Read More ›

First shot fired!

First shot fired!

August 1, 2014

Such was life, War:

On 5 August 1914, the day Australians learnt of the declaration of war, the German trading ship SS Pfalz was just leaving Port Phillip Bay. The ship had originally planned… Read More ›

Chance encounters with Australian art

Chance encounters with Australian art

July 28, 2014

Painting, Rare Books & Arts:

A chance encounter at a recent art auction viewing re-acquainted me with the lovely work of Dora Wilson, and I was delighted to find her work well represented in our… Read More ›

Olde Melbourne guidebooks

Olde Melbourne guidebooks

July 21, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Wondering what the cab fare rate was in Melbourne in 1973? Or the opening hours of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1911? Or where must imported explosives be unloaded in 1925? … Read More ›

The cat

The cat

July 21, 2014

Painting, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

I knew that my post on dogs in art would trigger a feline response….. Spend any time on the internet and you could be forgiven for thinking everyone likes cats… Read More ›

Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage now open

Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage now open

July 18, 2014

Exhibitions, News:

Victor Hugo: Les Misérables – From Page to Stage, a world-first exhibition and the biggest ever staged by the State Library of Victoria, is now open. The exhibition explores the… Read More ›

Paris and its people: “La plus ça change…”

Paris and its people: “La plus ça change…”

July 12, 2014

Rare Books & Arts:

Anna Welch from our History of the Book collection whets our appetite for all things Victor Hugo: To complement the library’s upcoming major new exhibition in the Keith Murdoch Gallery,… Read More ›

Violet Town railway disaster

Violet Town railway disaster

July 11, 2014

Cities & towns, Such was life:

On a very hot Friday, 7 February, 1969, just after 7.00am, the Southern Aurora, Australia’s overnight express passenger train between Sydney and Melbourne, collided head-on with an Albury-bound goods train, 174km north of Melbourne. The Melbourne-bound Southern Aurora ran through the Violet Town crossing loop where it should have waited for the goods train to pass.

Family History Feast 2014 bookings open Monday 14 July!!

Family History Feast 2014 bookings open Monday 14 July!!

July 7, 2014

Family History Feast 2014, Family matters:

Bookings for the annual Family History Feast event hosted by the State Library of Victoria open on Monday 14 July 2014. The eleventh Family History Feast  will be held at the Library… Read More ›

New Listening: Mozart, Blunt, Buble & Trio

New Listening: Mozart, Blunt, Buble & Trio

July 4, 2014

Music, Rare Books & Arts:

Some new CD arrivals feature on the Listening Posts in Arts.  They include recent releases in pop, rock, country, opera and world music. The online catalogue indicates which Listening Post the… 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.