Patents

The Library's collection of patents is hard to rival. Dating from 1617 until the present day, this extensive collection contains Victorian, Australian, British and American patents.  

What is a patent?

A patent gives the inventor of a process, device or substance the exclusive right to make, use and sell a particular invention. It is legally enforceable and granted for a stated period of time, usually 20 years in Australia. Patents offer a vast storehouse of information on scientific and technical topics which may not be published in any other form. They are rich in detail and more often than not are accompanied by very detailed drawings and diagrams.

What's special about the Patents' Collection?

The Library has a particularly strong collection of original Victorian and Australian patents including over 21,000 colonial patents, which were lodged in Victoria between 1854 and 1904. The Library also has an extensive collection of patents lodged after this time with the Australian Patents Office together with name and subject indexes and the Australian Journal of Patents.

Copies of British patents from 1617 to 1994, and American patents from 1920 to 1996 are also well represented as are the accompanying published indexes, re-issued and defensive patents, abridgements and journals.

How do I access material in this collection?

A selection of items from the Patents' Collection is available for browsing and reading in the Information Centre.