‘Doing the Block’: promenade on Collins Street
Ask a librarian, Buildings & streets, Social life & customs, Victorian history:
Every man and woman, and their dog
A short chronicle of the sorrows of George Edwards: poet, playwright, prisoner
People & professions, Victorian history:
‘A short chronicle of the sorrows of George Edwards’ is a unique set of papers in our manuscripts collection that documents the prison life and creative output of George Edwards, a prisoner at Pentridge Prison in the 1870s. His secret papers were wrapped in strips of prison sheets and wedged within the walls of the prison to avoid detection. Find out how they made their way to the State Library collection.
Online Collection Spotlight: Multi-subject databases
Collection spotlights, Research tips:
Delve into the vast array of online resources in our multi-subject category.
Detective Inspector Christie: Victoria’s master of disguise
Arts & literature, Ask a librarian, People & professions, Victorian history:
Detective Inspector John Christie was one of Victoria’s most well-known detectives. His use of disguises to catch opium smugglers, diamond thieves, moonshiners, and murderers saw him hailed as the Sherlock Holmes of Australia.
The last theatre on Bourke Street: an archival history of the Metro Nightclub and Palace Theatre
Arts & literature, Ask a librarian, Buildings & streets, Music, Performing Arts, Theatre, Victorian history:
Take a trip through the State Library archives to remember the many incarnations of the Metro Nightclub and Palace Theatre from 1854 until it closed its doors in May 2014.
Sherlock Holmes and spiritualism: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Victoria
Arts & literature, People & professions, Victorian history:
Dust off your deerstalkers and polish your magnifying glasses! Today (22nd May) is Sherlock Holmes Day, where the world celebrates the birthday of this super-sleuth’s creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Radical Acts
Radical Acts is a project to address gender bias in Wikipedia and the Library’s records by improving the representation of Australian feminist activists and movements.
Online Collection Spotlight: Migration to New Worlds
Migration to New Worlds charts the emigration experience of those who travelled from Great Britain, Ireland and Europe to Australasia and North America in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Conserving a fascinating piece of book history: Fragment of a French Bible, c. 1150-1175
In 2022, State Library Victoria added a fascinating piece of book history to its growing collection of fragments held within the Rare Books Collection. The item, a 315 x 265… Read More ›
Listening to the enemy: Melbourne’s radio listening post in World War II
Ask a librarian, Our stories, Victorian history:
During World War II, radio broadcasts were used to convey military news and to boost morale. Radio was also the perfect medium to spread propaganda to the enemy, with the aim of belittling or demoralising enemy forces and civilian populations. Read the intriguing story of how a Melbourne short wave station recorded Japanese propaganda messages to help the allied war effort.
Such was life
Arts
The last theatre on Bourke Street: an archival history of the Metro Nightclub and Palace Theatre
Take a trip through the State Library archives to remember the many incarnations of the Metro Nightclub and Palace Theatre from 1854 until it closed its doors in May 2014.
