Wilsons Promontory – treasure trove and haven

Wilsons Promontory – treasure trove and haven

January 6, 2023

Ask a librarian, Social life & customs, Victorian history:

Wilson’s Prom is a much loved holiday destination. Surrounding visitors with the natural world, a treasure trove and a haven.

Behind the curtain: the lives of Dolia and Rosa Ribush

Behind the curtain: the lives of Dolia and Rosa Ribush

January 3, 2023

Ask a librarian, Performing Arts, Theatre:

Dolia and Rosa Ribush arrived in Melbourne from Riga, Latvia in 1928. They played a pivotal role in the theatrical and cultural life of Australia.

Postcards from the beach

Postcards from the beach

December 30, 2022

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

It wouldn’t be a summer holiday without a hastily sent postcard that arrives home a few days after you do. Explore some of Victoria’s favourite beach towns through images from our extensive postcard collection.

The Ryerson Index:  a family history discovery tool

The Ryerson Index: a family history discovery tool

December 27, 2022

Family matters, Research tips & tricks, Websites:

The Ryerson Index can be a wonderful help to family history researchers. It’s a research tool for finding information about deceased family members and friends: a free online index of historic and current Australian newspaper death and funeral notices.

Six Ft Hick live at The Tote, 2016. Photograph by Zo Damage. This work is in copyright. H2022.177/1-560.

40+ years of the Tote

December 23, 2022

Ask a librarian, Music, Our stories, Popular music, rock, Victorian history:

Music, protests and sticky carpet; as the Tote Hotel celebrates 40 years of live music, we look back on the long history of this iconic Melbourne pub.

Christmas and holiday traditions we love

Christmas and holiday traditions we love

December 19, 2022

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

Take a festive jaunt through our image archive as we explore some of our most beloved Christmas and holiday traditions.

Luna Park: 110 years of fun

Luna Park: 110 years of fun

December 13, 2022

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

You can’t visit Melbourne and not at least have a selfie with the iconic entrance of Luna Park, a favourite spot for fun-seekers of any age.

The Press Fancy dress skirt and part of sash, 1866; H141541

Online Collection Spotlight: Berg Fashion Library

December 9, 2022

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:

Want to know what Monks in 1100 thought of men that wore pointed shoes? The history of headscarves and their persecution in Western fashion? Head to toe! The history of hats, hemlines, and heel heights are available at your fingertips through Berg Fashion Library.

Exterior view of milkbars in North Carlton, Victoria, 1983/1984. Photo by Christopher van der Craats. This work is in copyright; H2019.250/28

Your local milk bar

December 2, 2022

Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Victorian history:

Take a walk down memory lane as we explore a newly digitised collection of photographs of milkbars from the 70s and 80s taken by Melbourne photographer, Christopher van der Craats.

Lucy Lucy. Photograph by Shannyn Higgins, 2020. H2021.6/1-14

Melbourne’s murals: capturing a history of our street art scene

November 28, 2022

Ask a librarian, Victorian history:

Melbourne is famous for its cafes, laneways and of course, its street art. CBD sites like Hosier Lane and Duckboard Place boast bright murals that people from all around the world now travel to see and to take that quintessential selfie in a painted laneway. We truly own our title as the street art capital of Australia!

Such was life

Digitised dogs

Digitised dogs

August 26, 2024 0 comments

Celebrating this much loved (and digitised) species on International Dog Day.

Arts

Portrait of Ken Pound for the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants oral history project, 2010. Photo by Gwenda Davey. This work is in copyright. National Library of Australia; nla.obj-228944556

‘It really belongs to you people anyway…’: The story of Ken Pound

August 19, 2024 4 comments

To celebrate the Children’s Book Council of Australia Week, we pay tribute to the life of children’s literature collector, Ken Pound, and the collection he has left for us all.