Such was life

Murder, mayhem and misdeeds: read all about it in the Police News

Murder, mayhem and misdeeds: read all about it in the Police News

September 18, 2019

Social life & customs, Such was life:

The ‘Police News’ had nothing to do with the police- it was a scandalous Melbourne weekly publication which relished depicting all manner of crime.

Duels in Melbourne

Duels in Melbourne

August 16, 2019

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Early one Thursday morning in June 1839, two young men at an empty racecourse stood 16 paces from one another armed with pistols. They were preparing to engage in Melbourne’s first duel.

The Johnny Crow stories

The Johnny Crow stories

July 23, 2019

Arts & literature, Our stories:

In the early twentieth century, author Leslie Brooke developed new techniques that were to influence many in what became the Golden Age of Children’s books.

The chaos and order of Marion Page

The chaos and order of Marion Page

June 28, 2019

Collection Care, Our stories, People & professions, Preservation, Social life & customs:

Follow the journey of a large, multi-format Manuscript collection belonging to the late Marion Page from a South Yarra storage room to our Preservation team.

The Chief Librarian and the soap thieves

The Chief Librarian and the soap thieves

June 6, 2019

Our stories, People & professions:

In 1887, someone was stealing the State Library soap- or was it ‘someones’?

From celebrity to the streets, the power of photojournalism

From celebrity to the streets, the power of photojournalism

June 5, 2019

Our stories, People & professions:

Over the course of his 50-year career, news photographer Bruce Postle captured images of the rich, the famous and the powerful. But on many occasions, his work also involved the most humble and vulnerable people in the community.

The Spare Corner Club

The Spare Corner Club

May 17, 2019

People & professions, Social life & customs, Such was life:

It was a cool summer’s day in 1940 when around fifty members of the Spare Corner Club met in the Fitzroy Gardens for lunch…

Liverpool to Melbourne: the newspaper

Liverpool to Melbourne: the newspaper

May 7, 2019

People & professions, Such was life:

During her 1854 voyage to Melbourne, the ‘Marco Polo’ published a weekly newspaper for passengers- which provides a vivid description to life on board.

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King Arthur through the ages

May 3, 2019

Arts & literature, Musicals, Such was life:

King Arthur has a rich artistic and cultural legacy. Explore the rise and rise of Arthur, a king for the ages. 

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.