![[Victoria Hotel, Colac] H96.200/1498](https://7f10fe.state-library-victoria.quantgovsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Victoria-Hotel-Colac-photo-120x120.png)
Family matters, People & professions:
Great news for family historians with publican ancestors – the index to the Robert K Cole Victorian hotels collection (1841-1949) has been expanded, with a total of over 37,000 entries now searchable online!
Arts & literature, Such was life:
In January 1939, HG Wells visited Australia and raised the ire of the Australian Prime Minister Joseph Lyons. His visit was brief, controversial and created international news.
The Library has been contributing PANDORA, Australia’s web archive, since 1998. Explore the weird and wonderful websites that have made their way into the collection over the past 20 years.
Guns on the Western Front fell silent one hundred years ago, at 11am on 11 November 1918, bringing to an end what we remember as the First World War.
With the announcement of the World War I armistice on 11 November 1918, many soldiers felt both joy and disbelief. Stretcher-bearer Percy Samson captured it in his diary.
Painting, Rare Books & Arts, Visual arts:
One of Australia’s most famous artists of the time, Max Meldrum even had followers with their own nickname, the Meldrumites. But with his vocal opinions he was not without detractors and controversy. Read about his influence on the artists that formed Montsalvat.
The Robinson brothers, Thomas, Charles and William Heath delighted in referring to themselves as the three musketeers. They spent much of their early adult life in their father’s studio and later shared studios with one another, all three establishing themselves as book illustrators.
Larger-than-life unicorns, futuristic creatures and vibrant flowers bring to life State Library Victoria’s facade with the unveiling of an artwork spanning 27 metres by RMIT student Caro Pattle.
Film, Music, Rare Books & Arts:
There are some great new arrivals in pop, rock, film soundtracks, opera and classical featuring the following additions to the Library’s music collection, currently showcased on our wonderful new listening posts in the Arts Reading Room.
A book about the history of mental health during the gold rush in Victoria has been awarded top prize at the 2018 Victorian Community History Awards.
In 1965, some older Victorians wrote short essays for a competition, recalling their early lives.
Ailsa O’Connor (1921-1980) was a political activist, painter, sculptor, author and teacher. Throughout her art career she was a member of the Communist Party and associated with the Socialist Realist Group.
