New ebooks in Arts: Zines, would you believe

New ebooks in Arts: Zines, would you believe

May 25, 2014

Comic books, Music, New books, Popular music, Rare Books & Arts:

A lot of people involved in the zine community would say that digitising zines takes away something intrinsic – the kinesthetic and unique appreciation of the physical object – and… Read More ›

Victoria’s budget 1852

Victoria’s budget 1852

May 22, 2014

Politics, Such was life:

In 1852 Victoria was barely one year old, after separation from New South Wales in 1851. It was ‘the period of the greatest social and political disorganisation that the colony… Read More ›

Charles Marville and the changing face of Paris

Charles Marville and the changing face of Paris

May 19, 2014

Photography, Rare Books & Arts:

With the State Library’s major Victor Hugo exhibition coming up in July, the name of Charles Marville has been getting mentioned in despatches recently. One of the very greatest photographers… Read More ›

New Listening: music legends & more

New Listening: music legends & more

May 14, 2014

Rare Books & Arts:

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

Victorian Historical Journal 1911-2012 now online

May 9, 2014

Arts & literature, Such was life:

For over a year, we’ve been providing free access to digitised copies of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s magazine for 1911-1954.  Thanks to the Society, we’re now able to make Victorian Historical… Read More ›

Happy birthday Shakespeare; 450, but who’s counting?

Happy birthday Shakespeare; 450, but who’s counting?

May 9, 2014

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

William Shakespeare isn’t looking too bad for 450……. Henry IV, parts 1 & 2: Shakespeare’s Globe To many people the plays Henry IV  and Henry V hold a special place… Read More ›

Pre-1901 Irish census records available on Find my past Ireland

May 7, 2014

Family matters, Uncategorized, Websites:

Last week the The National Archives of Ireland and  Find my past anounced the release of over 600,000 Irish census records. These records cover the period 1821-1851 and have been made available through… Read More ›

Cultural coup as Melbourne secures French national treasure

Cultural coup as Melbourne secures French national treasure

May 4, 2014

Announcements, Exhibitions, News:

The original 1862 manuscript of Les Misérables, a French national treasure, is leaving Europe for the first time to be exhibited exclusively at the State Library of Victoria, Minister for… Read More ›

New ebooks in Arts: From daguerréotypes to white cubes

New ebooks in Arts: From daguerréotypes to white cubes

May 3, 2014

Film, New books, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:

This week’s new ebooks I’ll be focussing on are a pleasant handful of contemplations on film and filmmakers, both present and past. A collection of interviews with photographer and film… Read More ›

New DVDs: Bolshoi, George Harrison, Superstar & Shakespeare in Italy

New DVDs: Bolshoi, George Harrison, Superstar & Shakespeare in Italy

April 27, 2014

Performing Arts, Rare Books & Arts:

New DVDs arriving into the collection include the following: Bolshoi : a renaissance. Graeme Murphy’s Romeo & Juliet by The Australian Ballet.   George Harrison: living in a material world.… Read More ›

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.