Social life & customs

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 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 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…

Women changing the world, part three: Physical autonomy

Women changing the world, part three: Physical autonomy

March 28, 2019

Arts & literature, Our stories, Politics, Social life & customs:

In the third and final part of our exploration of works by women that have changed our world, we focus on women’s reproductive rights.

Elizabeth Batman's doll

Elizabeth Batman’s doll

March 20, 2019

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Elizabeth Batman’s doll is a fascinating relic from the earliest days of Melbourne.

Women changing the world, part two: political equality

Women changing the world, part two: political equality

March 20, 2019

Arts & literature, Our stories, Politics, Social life & customs:

Campaigns to secure the right to vote for women helped progress women’s political equality. Discover the ground-breaking women leading the charge through the rare books in this ‘World of the book’ display.

Melbourne’s lost department stores

Melbourne’s lost department stores

March 6, 2019

Buildings & streets, Our stories, Social life & customs:

Melbourne and shopping have been hand in glove since the 1880s, and at its peak the city flaunted more than a dozen department stores.

Women changing the world, part one: intellectual equality

Women changing the world, part one: intellectual equality

March 4, 2019

Arts & literature, Our stories, Politics, Social life & customs:

Explore the history of the struggle for women’s equality – intellectual, political, and physical – in this three-part series.

What about the women? – Part 2

What about the women? – Part 2

January 22, 2019

Our stories, People & professions, Social life & customs:

Piece together the stories of Mary Ann and Eliza Henty and their role in Victoria’s first European settlement.