Media: large format hardcover, with dustjacket, 176 pages
Author: B. Roberts
Year: 2003

The State Library of Victoria, established as the Melbourne Public Library in 1854, is the custodian of material that records and reflects Victoria’s history and culture. From manuscripts and maps to comics and computer games, the Library’s collections offer unexpected insights into what makes Victoria and Victorians unique.

Treasures of the State Library of Victoria, published to celebrate the library’s 150th anniversary in 2004, encourages readers to discover the changing face and nature of life in Victoria since the time of first contact between Aboriginal and European cultures.

This lavish publication showcases more than 200 images, sourced from the library's world-class collections, including those of rarely seen photographs, prints, publications, letters, maps and memorabilia. Every chapter highlights special aspects of the collections and demonstrates their astonishing depth and diversity, covering topics as broad as settlement and separation, the discovery of gold, Ned Kelly, the arts, Melbourne style, sport, natural history and more.

The State Library of Victoria is Australia’s oldest free public library and one of the first of Victoria’s key cultural institutions. Over the years the library has indeed fulfilled its founders’ aim of becoming a ’great emporium of learning, philosophy, of literature, art and science’ and today holds almost two million items documenting all aspects of life in Victoria. Treasures of the State Library of Victoria brings the state’s fascinating history and culture alive.