State Library Victoria

📸 Google Street View, 1970s-style.

Take a virtual stroll through the old streets of South Melbourne in these nostalgic photos from the Committee for Urban Action.

Concerned by the destruction of Victoria’s building heritage, the group photographed an extraordinary number of streetscapes – working street by street, intersection to intersection – across inner-city Melbourne and regional towns.

Their enormous collection of more than 2000 reels of 35mm film (over 70,000 photographs) was donated to the Library in 1977.

🔗 The images are a rich record of urban life. Tour the neighbourhood online: find.slv.vic.gov.au/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=61SLV_INST:SLV&collectionId=81271917400007636&lang=en

Beyond the Page returns with leading voices in politics, fiction and health that take you inside the writer’s world.

Across 3 evenings, hear from incredible storytellers as they delve into their latest work and discuss their creative process:
📚 5 August - Amy Remeikis on power, public discourse and the politics of civility, inspired by her new book Screw Nice: How the Politics of Civility Shuts Us Up
📚 13 August - Join bestselling romantasy author and BookTok sensation Stacey McEwan on 13 August as she discusses her latest novel, A Forsaken Prophecy
📚 3 September – Dr Norman Swan explores brain health, ageing and cognitive wellbeing, drawing from his new book The Brain Cliff.

🔗 Be part of the conversation, book now: https://bit.ly/4utbBcb

🐟 This World Ocean Day, deep dive into one of the Library’s most extraordinary marine-inspired treasures. 🦀

Poissons, Écrevisses et Crabes… (1754) by Louis Renard is teeming with vivid hand-coloured etchings of fish and crustaceans of the East Indies.

The earliest known publication on ocean life to be produced in colour, the hues are spectacular, at times extravagant, but many of the fish are identifiable species.

Others are more fanciful – the volume even contains an illustration of a mermaid, certified as authentic by the editor!

Renard's work is a reminder of how the sea has long stirred awe and imagination, and how vital it is to protect its stories and species.

🥽 Plunge into this fantastical book in our digital catalogue https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/404608

Today is Mabo Day, and the last day of Reconciliation Week.

3 June marks the historic 1992 Mabo decision in which the High Court of Australia recognised native title, the recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights over their lands did survive British colonisation.

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our Indigenous research guides are one way to continue that journey. Whether you're researching family history, exploring First Peoples' culture, or learning about the long history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, these guides can help you navigate the Library's collections and resources.

Continue your research with our guides and databases: https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/indigenous

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year marks 25 years of Reconciliation Australia and the 2026 theme All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.

Making weekend plans? Start your Friday night at Library Up Late. ✨

Step into an after-dark playground of art, music and imagination as State Library Victoria comes alive for the launch of Rising Melbourne.

Wander through sound, music, art and performance; from shimmering soundscapes in the Dome to concert experiences in the Ian Potter Queens Hall, moments of reflection with after-hours access to our exhibitions, or ignite your own creative spark with artist talks and collage poetry.

Book now: https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/library-late-x-rising

The State Library after dark? Immediately yes. For one night only, RISING turns the building into a late-night playground of sound, dance, DJs, choir, letter-writing and the Dome reimagined as a Sonic Temple. It’s giving romance, intellect and a very good reason to stay out past your bedtime. Tap the link to find out when, and discover the other RISING moments Melbourne will be talking about 👉 https://ebx.sh/8m0FSz

📷 RISING and State Library of Victoria