Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:
From consumer culture and conservatism to subculture and socialism, the AM 1980s Culture and Society database paints a vivid portrait of life in this dynamic decade.
Social life & customs, Victorian history:
The course of true love never did run smooth, but what was it like finding love in early colonial Australia?
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
On 11 February our Library celebrates our 169th birthday. While based on the world’s great libraries, our Library was also a radical departure. Ours was a library with unrestricted access to anyone over 14, with every book available to view. The primary driver of the Library was Redmond Barry. While generally remembered as the judge at the Ned Kelly trial, Redmond Barry’s pioneering contribution to Melbourne’s cultural and educational heritage is unsurpassed
Ask a librarian, Victorian history:
Australia’s first amusement park – Princes Court – opened in 1904 on the banks of Melbourne’s Yarra River. Visitors had a range of amusements to choose from, including the 70-foot-high water chute ride, toboggan tracks and a Japanese tea house.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights:
Where can I learn about the American whaling industry? What would a ship’s master have in his chest? What would the dying words of a pirate be? And can anyone help me to tell the flags of the Union and Orient shipping lines apart? Find out all of this and more in the AM Digital database Life at Sea: Seafaring in the Anglo-American Maritime World, 1600-1900.
In 1922 Agatha Christie accompanied her husband on an around the world tour to promote the British Empire Exhibition in 1924. On her travels, she spent 10 days in Victoria- find out what she thought…
Arts & literature, Our stories, Social life & customs, Victorian history:
Colonial Australians have always battled to bring British and European traditions to the Christmas season. Roast meat and gravy, puddings and finery can still be found at many Christmas events. What is less likely to be found is the curious tradition of the Christmas Eve ghost story.
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Our stories:
Ever wanted to peer inside a penny dreadful? Or wondered who the Wandering Minstrels were? Join us as we explore the arts world of Victorian-era Britain with Gale’s British Theatre, Music, and Literature: High and Popular Culture database.
Ask a librarian, Exhibitions, Our stories, Social life & customs:
The Melbourne Out Loud exhibition celebrates and showcases the life and work of Victorian photographer Rennie Ellis. Ellis’ photography documented a spectrum of Australian culture and life from the 1960s onwards. Here we explore the exhibition themes and showcase some favourite images.
Ask a librarian, Painting, Victorian history:
Cavalacde of Transport, The Story of Fire and The history of Australian thoroughbred racing are some of Melbourne’s largest and most seen artworks. These were from the hands of Harold Freedman, locally born and bred, whose exploration of monumental art came later in his life.
The course of true love never did run smooth, but what was it like finding love in early colonial Australia?
Cavalacde of Transport, The Story of Fire and The history of Australian thoroughbred racing are some of Melbourne’s largest and most seen artworks. These were from the hands of Harold Freedman, locally born and bred, whose exploration of monumental art came later in his life.
