Courting in the colony: finding a partner in 19th-century Australia
Social life & customs, Victorian history:
The course of true love never did run smooth, but what was it like finding love in early colonial Australia?
Such was life
A passion for adventure: Agatha Christie in Victoria
In 1922 Agatha Christie accompanied her husband on an around the world tour to promote the British Empire Exhibition in 1924. On her travels, she spent 10 days in Victoria- find out what she thought…
A ghost story for Christmas
Arts & literature, Our stories, Social life & customs, Victorian history:
Colonial Australians have always battled to bring British and European traditions to the Christmas season. Roast meat and gravy, puddings and finery can still be found at many Christmas events. What is less likely to be found is the curious tradition of the Christmas Eve ghost story.
Melbourne Out Loud: The photography of Rennie Ellis
Ask a librarian, Exhibitions, Our stories, Social life & customs:
The Melbourne Out Loud exhibition celebrates and showcases the life and work of Victorian photographer Rennie Ellis. Ellis’ photography documented a spectrum of Australian culture and life from the 1960s onwards. Here we explore the exhibition themes and showcase some favourite images.
Greater love hath no man. 90 years of the Shrine
Ask a librarian, Buildings & streets, Victorian history:
The eleventh hour, the eleventh day, the eleventh month. Every year at this exact time we remember those who gave us the greatest gift: freedom. On November 11, 2024 the Shrine of Remembrance will commemorate it’s 90th anniversary.
Melbourne’s Marvellous Madame Weigel
Collections, People & professions, Such was life, Victorian history:
Madame Weigel’s Journal of Fashion became a staple of Australian life for those interested in being well dressed, well presented, and well informed. This treasure trove has recently been digitised and made available online.
Mary Fortune: pioneer of Australian detective stories
Arts & literature, Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Mary Fortune was the author of the longest running 19th-century crime fiction series published in a periodical and one of the earliest female crime writers in the world.
Digitised dogs
Celebrating this much loved (and digitised) species on International Dog Day.
Houdini visits Australia
Arts & literature, Such was life:
Houdini remains one of the world’s most famous entertainers. He toured Australia in 1910, performing his feats of escapology in Melbourne and Sydney, diving into the Yarra handcuffed and chained, completing the first powered flight in Australia, and becoming embroiled in a dispute with world champion boxer Tommy Burns about the proprietorship of the milk can escape.
Strange lights in the sky: The Westall UFO event, 1966
Ask a librarian, Cities & towns, Our stories, Victorian history:
On 6 April 1966, in a quiet suburb south east of Melbourne, reports emerged of something strange in the sky…
