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Paintings of Early Melbourne
Discover the rare and little known paintings of Melbourne from the 1840s to the 1870s, from the Roy Morgan Research Centre Collection. These paintings, watercolours and lithographs provide an insider’s glimpse of the early beginnings of colonial Melbourne and offer an insight into the life of Melbournians, from a swamp town to the opulence and wealth of the gold rush era. Due to the location of this display, viewing is only available on a tour.
Find out more »The Australian Sketchbook: Colonial life and art of ST Gill
Samuel Thomas Gill was well-known as 'the artist of the goldfields', his many sketches and watercolours depicting the daily life of diggers in search of that elusive metal - gold. Dr Dianne Reilly AM FRHSV, former La Trobe Librarian of the State Library of Victoria and co-founder of the C J La Trobe Society, draws on the resources of State Library Victoria to illuminate his intriguing life and great talent. Presented as part of Rare Book Week.
Find out more »Introducing ‘Gold Rush: 20 objects, 20 stories’
The new exhibition Gold Rush: 20 Objects 20 Stories presents the turbulent tale of Victoria’s gold rush through the individual stories of 20 objects. Gold was first discovered in Australia in 1851 – first in New South Wales and then in Victoria. The lure of gold was huge. It represented the opportunity of a lifetime to escape from the relentless cycle of hard work and low pay that was the lot of most people. As stories circulated of fabulous finds…
Find out more »Diggers on the road to Bendigo, ST Gill
This watercolour by Samuel Thomas (S.T.) Gill depicts two men and a boy, walking along a dirt track carrying utensils and mining tools. In the distance is a cart. The image is taken from Gills book The Gold Fields of Victoria during 1852 and 3 comprising fifty original gold sketches of life and character primitive operations et cetera et cetera. Find out more about this stunning sketch in a FREE floor talk by Gabrielle Keating. Part of the Gold Rush:…
Find out more »Paintings of Early Melbourne
Discover the rare and little known paintings of Melbourne from the 1840s to the 1870s, from the Roy Morgan Research Centre Collection. These paintings, watercolours and lithographs provide an insider’s glimpse of the early beginnings of colonial Melbourne and offer an insight into the life of Melbournians, from a swamp town to the opulence and wealth of the gold rush era. Due to the location of this display, viewing is only available on a tour.
Find out more »Caroline Chisholm’s letter and sketch, 15 Nov 1854
Join us for a free talk about humanitarian Caroline Chisholm. On November 15, 1854 she campaigned to the Victorian government to provide cheap and safe accommodation for diggers and their families on the roads to the goldfields. She had toured the goldfields and was horrified by the conditions that men, women and children were living in. This record is on display courtesy of the Public Record Office Victoria. Part of the Gold Rush: 20 Objects, 20 Stories Public Program.
Find out more »Paintings of Early Melbourne
Discover the rare and little known paintings of Melbourne from the 1840s to the 1870s, from the Roy Morgan Research Centre Collection. These paintings, watercolours and lithographs provide an insider’s glimpse of the early beginnings of colonial Melbourne and offer an insight into the life of Melbournians, from a swamp town to the opulence and wealth of the gold rush era. Due to the location of this display, viewing is only available on a tour.
Find out more »History and Fiction
This seminar probes the boundaries and relationship between history and fiction through the eyes of three practitioners. History is never completely knowable: does this mean reasonable speculation is an essential tool of historical work?
Find out more »Paintings of Early Melbourne
Discover the rare and little known paintings of Melbourne from the 1840s to the 1870s, from the Roy Morgan Research Centre Collection. These paintings, watercolours and lithographs provide an insider’s glimpse of the early beginnings of colonial Melbourne and offer an insight into the life of Melbournians, from a swamp town to the opulence and wealth of the gold rush era. Due to the location of this display, viewing is only available on a tour.
Find out more »Paintings of Early Melbourne
Discover the rare and little known paintings of Melbourne from the 1840s to the 1870s, from the Roy Morgan Research Centre Collection. These paintings, watercolours and lithographs provide an insider’s glimpse of the early beginnings of colonial Melbourne and offer an insight into the life of Melbournians, from a swamp town to the opulence and wealth of the gold rush era. Due to the location of this display, viewing is only available on a tour.
Find out more »