Reminiscences from 1965
Social life & customs, Such was life:
In 1965, some older Victorians wrote short essays for a competition, recalling their early lives.
Social life & customs
Feasts of Christmas past
Ask a librarian, Food, Social life & customs, Victorian history:
What are your favourite festive food memories? Have you ever enjoyed Christmas Day lunch on the beach, up a mountain or aboard a ship? Do you remember pineapple glazed ham? Would you like the 100-year-old recipe for walnut stuffing? The State Library’s historic menus, cookbooks, photos and magazines trace Christmas foods from early colonial tables to the festive flavours celebrated by our diverse migrant communities. Dive in and rediscover your favourite Christmas dishes — or find inspiration for this year’s feast.
Recently digitised: playbills from the Coppin Collection
Collection, Digitisation, Performing Arts, Recently digitised, Social life & customs, Theatre:
George Selth Coppin, an indefatigable powerhouse, was responsible for much of the popular culture that entertained theatre going audiences in the second half of the 19th century. State Library Victoria has recently digitised more than 1200 theatre playbills from its comprehensive Coppin Collection – a highly significant archive of theatrical history.
‘Doing the Block’: promenade on Collins Street
Ask a librarian, Buildings & streets, Social life & customs, Victorian history:
‘The Block’ was a section of Collins street bounded by Elizabeth and Swanson streets. As early as the 1860s is was considered one of the primary places to see and be seen in the Melbourne CBD, but it reached its zenith during the economic boom years in the 1880s and 1890s. ‘Doing the Block’ was a common term to describe the endless promenading of Melbournians up and down Collins street, often dressed in their finest as they frequented the fashionable cafes, tea houses and shops
Courting in the colony: finding a partner in 19th-century Australia
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?
A ghost story for Christmas
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.
Melbourne Out Loud: The photography of Rennie Ellis
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.
Nineteenth century Victorians
Photography, Social life & customs, Such was life:
The Etkins collection consists of wonderful portraits of people and places throughout 19th century Victoria.
The Garden Gazette and more – new in our popular digitised collections
Collection spotlights, Social life & customs, Uncategorized:
Explore this collection of newly digitised gardening and horticulture periodicals of the early 20th century.
Online Collection Spotlight: Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History
Ask a librarian, Collection spotlights, Social life & customs, Uncategorized:
What were the conditions like on the Trans-Siberian railway for women in the 1930s? Which American city was most like Melbourne in the 50s? And does anyone know what to wear to dinner when traveling first-class by ship? Learn about travel writing, but from a uniquely female perspective in the Travel Writing, Spectacle and World History database.
