Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Equal rights for women was a long, hard earned achievement. The path towards the freedoms we enjoy today was paved by many brave women who spoke their minds when it wasn’t an easy thing to do, who wouldn’t take NO as an answer. This article is about one of them: Fanny Finch, single mother of four, and the first known woman to vote in an Australian election.
Family matters, Research tips & tricks:
In the mid 19th century, a wave of Chinese migrants came to Australia in search of prosperity. By 1861, over 24,000 Chinese individuals were living in Victoria . Many resided… Read More ›
Social life & customs, Such was life, War:
Melbourne has likely never seen such an outbreak of spontaneous rejoicing and mass celebration, as it did on Victory in the Pacific Day, August 15 1945.
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
‘Everyone agreed the day was just right for the picnic to Hanging Rock…’
By Paul Dee, Senior Librarian Victorian and Australian Collections Trove is the National Library’s online portal to more than 6 billion artefacts, curiosities and stories from Australia’s cultural, community and research institutions.… Read More ›
Buildings & streets, People & professions, Such was life:
Bell hangers and nightmen, leech merchants and lightermen; these are just some of the nineteenth century characters you may find lurking within the pages of a Sands & McDougall directory.
Arts & literature, Such was life:
Melbourne artist Sybil Craig became one of the first women war artists in Australia. The Library holds Sybil’s archive which contains over 1700 photographs and more than 280 works on paper, many of which are now online.
Family matters, Research tips & tricks, Websites:
We have some great news for family historians.
The Index to Victorian births, deaths and marriages has been updated and you can now search for marriages up to 1950! That’s 8 years of additional marriages!
Cities & towns, Such was life:
‘I can readily imagine why most people speak of this part of the country with a certain dread for there is actually no grass and no water to be found.’
People & professions, Social life & customs, Such was life:
Criminals, crime and justice in colonial Victoria!
