The Anti-Football League
Melbourne is routinely depicted as a sport loving city with our devotion to Australian Rules football characterised as an obsession. The writer George Johnston, author of the novel My Brother… Read More ›
Such was life
Elves and fairies by Ethel Jackson Morris
Arts & literature, Such was life:
For many months a charming illustration of a fairy child and a kookaburra has graced the walls of the Library’s Cowen Gallery in the exhibition Once upon a time: a… Read More ›
Echuca’s anniversary
Cities & towns, Such was life:
In 1864 the railway connecting Melbourne to Echuca opened. This had an enormous effect on the town, with the resultant increase in trade turning Echuca into Australia’s largest inland port.
Melbourne’s historic skyline
Buildings & streets, Such was life:
Melbourne’s skyline developed rapidly once the first passenger lifts were installed. The L. Stevenson & Sons warehouse in Flinders Lane had two of the first hydraulic goods lifts installed in… Read More ›
First shot fired!
On 5 August 1914, the day Australians learnt of the declaration of war, the German trading ship SS Pfalz was just leaving Port Phillip Bay. The ship had originally planned… Read More ›
Olde Melbourne guidebooks
Social life & customs, Such was life:
Wondering what the cab fare rate was in Melbourne in 1973? Or the opening hours of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1911? Or where must imported explosives be unloaded in 1925? … Read More ›
Violet Town railway disaster
Cities & towns, Such was life:
On a very hot Friday, 7 February, 1969, just after 7.00am, the Southern Aurora, Australia’s overnight express passenger train between Sydney and Melbourne, collided head-on with an Albury-bound goods train, 174km north of Melbourne. The Melbourne-bound Southern Aurora ran through the Violet Town crossing loop where it should have waited for the goods train to pass.
Unexpected sketches
Arts & literature, Such was life:
A library patron recently led me to a beautiful book containing sketches by the prison artist William Stanford. The patron had an old newspaper article which mentioned the book, but… Read More ›
Is your Victorian history project award-worthy?
Local history funding sources, Such was life:
Nominations for the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s 2014 Victorian Community History Awards are now open. The awards recognise ‘excellence in historical method’, and the types of works that can be… Read More ›
It will look better embossed!
Frank Firestone was responsible for many examples of iconic design and advertising imagery for predominantly Australian brands and products.
