'Melbourne: A City of Stories' was published to complement the new, long-term exhibition, 'The Melbourne Story'.
That makes it a selective history: one based on objects - things that have survived the passage of time. The idea that objects can give rise to stories comes as no surprise to anyone who's ever dug up a shard of old china in their garden, or found an ancient button down the back of a chair . "I wonder what the story is ..."
A beautifully restored carriage from the Big Dipper
reminds us that Luna Park has been a place of thrills for over 80 years
while a Cobb and Co Coach, once owned by a Geelong schoolboy, tells us
of the hard journey to the goldfields. The Yarra canoe is a poignant
reminder of the traditional land owners.
This book reflects on both the place and its people, telling not just
the big story, but small ones as well. Against the blare of Marvellous Melbourne, William Barak speaks up for the rights of Aborigines. Melbourne becomes the nation's capital and William Douglas is admitted to the Kew Asylum.
This book draws the reader into a sense of exploring the city's layers through time. Its emphasis is less on the proud public record than on objects and people with stories to tell and a place in Melbourne's history.
Contents
Foreword
Melbourne, The Meting Place 1835-1850
Gold Town 1850-1880
Marvellous Melbourne 1880-1890
Melbourne and the Nation 1900-1920
Electric City 1920-1945
Suburban City 1945-1980
Changing City 1980-Present
Acknowledgements
Index
