Such was life

The great flood of 1891

The great flood of 1891

July 20, 2015

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

In July 1891, non stop rain over a weekend saw the Yarra break its bank and flood surrounding suburbs- leaving thousands homeless.

Public images of World War I: myth & reality

Public images of World War I: myth & reality

July 7, 2015

Such was life, War:

Read an extract from a talk by war correspondent and author Jill Jolliffe on the reporting of World War I and, in particular, the work of official historian C.E.W. Bean.

Rev Wong with children in Collingwood, holding oranges. Photographer: T. W. Cameron

Lights and shades of city life

June 19, 2015

People & professions, Such was life:

In the 1920s Reverend George Wong was a minister at the Collingwood Methodist Church, helping the poor, teaching at kindergarten and lecturing around Victoria about the life of Melbourne’s poor with the help of a limelight projector.

Tiger in the goldfields

Tiger in the goldfields

June 9, 2015

People & professions, Such was life:

Ballarat: Sunday 8th July, 1855: ‘Got home and found the tent afloat and my blankets wet…Kindled fire and cleaned up tent. Boiled kettle and prepared supper. Ironing my blankets, I burned one of them.’

A Melbourne love affair

A Melbourne love affair

May 19, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Melbourne’s love affair with coffee has been long-term, passionate, and sometimes controversial.

The Alan K Jordan collection of photographs

The Alan K Jordan collection of photographs

May 4, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

The Library has recently digitized a collection of photographs of homeless people from the 1960s and 1970s.

The Waler; a war horse

The Waler; a war horse

April 22, 2015

Such was life, War:

Walers became legendary with the Australian Light Horse for their feats of endurance and bravery on the battle field during WWI.

Dan Morgan: bushranger

Dan Morgan: bushranger

April 7, 2015

People & professions, Such was life, Uncategorized:

It is 150 years since the death of the bushranger known as Dan Morgan.

A bohemian football match

A bohemian football match

March 31, 2015

Sport, Such was life:

The costume football match in 1881 featured players dressed as characters from opera, tragedy, comedy, farce and pantomime.

Making an exhibition of yourself

Making an exhibition of yourself

March 18, 2015

People & professions, Such was life:

Want to meet some ordinary Melbournians from the 1880s? About 500 of them lurk in the pages of a ‘security album’ from the spectacular Melbourne Centennial Exhibition, held in 1888.