Cities & towns

Escalators: Moving Melbourne and beyond

Escalators: Moving Melbourne and beyond

October 2, 2025

Ask a librarian, Buildings & streets, Cities & towns, Our stories, Such was life, Victorian history:

In September 1932, hundreds of people congregated in and around a new building on the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets in central Melbourne. These crowds hoped to experience a new phenomenon: the escalator. As the twentieth century progressed, each decade saw more cities in Australia embrace the continuous movement that was possible with the introduction of the moving staircase.

Reconnecting with ‘The silver brumby’

Reconnecting with ‘The silver brumby’

April 2, 2025

Ask a librarian, Cities & towns, Such was life, Victorian history:

Librarian Daniel Giddens reconnects with one of his favourite children’s stories, ‘The silver brumby’, sharing what makes it so special to him, as well as exploring the background of its author, and the history and significance of its publication.

Strange lights in the sky: The Westall UFO event, 1966

Strange lights in the sky: The Westall UFO event, 1966

April 6, 2024

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…

Paris is always a good idea

Paris is always a good idea

March 17, 2023

Ask a librarian, Cities & towns, Photography, Reference desk:

Read about the time Paris lost itself in Melbourne. Good thing we found it and gave it back to the world! Here’s the fascinating story of a collection that everyone believed to be lost.

Walking the blue lake

Walking the blue lake

April 16, 2019

Buildings & streets, Cities & towns, Our stories:

Dr David Sornig ponders the history of West Melbourne’s lost wetlands, and takes us on a collective journey around the area.

A darkroom on wheels

A darkroom on wheels

March 27, 2019

Cities & towns, Such was life:

An itinerant immigrant from Scotland took some fascinating photos of the Western District in the 1850s.

Cremorne Gardens from South Side of Yarra nr Col- Andersons, ST Gill, 1855

On a visit to the Cremorne Gardens

June 13, 2018

Cities & towns, Exhibitions, People & professions:

Opened in 1853 on the banks of the Yarra River, the Cremorne Gardens was Melbourne’s first amusement park. Featuring fireworks displays, tightrope dancers and Australia’s first hot air balloon ascent, the gardens brought theatre and spectacle to the newly established British colony.

The erasure of Melbourne’s wetlands

The erasure of Melbourne’s wetlands

August 29, 2016

Buildings & streets, Cities & towns, Such was life:

Creative fellow and author, Dr David Sornig, shows us how the library’s maps and manuscripts chart the demise of West Melbourne’s wetlands in his special guest blog this week. Welcome David.

Glorious news! Separation at last!

Glorious news! Separation at last!

July 5, 2016

Cities & towns, Such was life:

Victoria is celebrating the 165th anniversary of its own Brexit, the day colonists won independence from the British colony of NSW. To mark the occasion, an exhibition of rare historical artwork and records has gone on display at the Library.

Settlement at Sullivan Bay

Settlement at Sullivan Bay

June 22, 2016

Cities & towns, Such was life:

Was the British settlement of Sorrento in 1803 Victoria’s first attempt at a desalinisation plant?