Social life & customs

Chess in Victoria

Chess in Victoria

December 28, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

The Library’s Chess Collection reflects Victorian’s long enthusiasm for the game.

European labour stamps on Australian furniture

European labour stamps on Australian furniture

September 11, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Why did furniture made in Victoria prior to 1960 have to be stamped ‘European labour only’?

Slums of Melbourne

Slums of Melbourne

August 6, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

As far back as the 1850s, slums existed in inner city Melbourne. In the 1930s, Frederick Barnett began taking photos of the slums, using them in a push for social reform.

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.

Moomba

Moomba

March 3, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Melbourne’s Moomba festival first took place in March 1955 and was initiated to liven up Melbourne and attract tourists.

The history of hello

The history of hello

January 8, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

You’re the first person in the world to answer the telephone- so what do you say; Hello? Hulloa? Hi? Anybody there?

Victoria’s early horse trams

Victoria’s early horse trams

November 19, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

In 1884 Melbourne’s first tramway- a horse tramway in Fairfield- was built to promote land sales in the area (100 years of Melbourne’s trams, pg 1). Two horses pulled a carriage containing… Read More ›

Olde Melbourne guidebooks

Olde Melbourne guidebooks

July 21, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Wondering what the cab fare rate was in Melbourne in 1973? Or the opening hours of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1911? Or where must imported explosives be unloaded in 1925? … Read More ›

Temperance and Melbourne’s grand coffee palaces

Temperance and Melbourne’s grand coffee palaces

May 31, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

The temperance movement originated in the 19th century and urged for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol. Temperance societies were initially founded during the 1820s in the United States and… Read More ›