Collectors & their collections

The amazing diversity and depth of the Library's collections is partly due to the commitment and enthusiasm of ordinary people with a passion for collecting. Meet some of the generous folk who have donated their collections to the Library.

Will Alma swallowing razor blades, late 1950s

WG Alma

WG Alma collected a cornucopia of magic-related items, including books, photographs, posters, research files on individual magicians, and memorabilia – all residing in our WG Alma Conjuring Collection.

Detail from 'Contract bridge simplified'

Tim & Margaret Bourke

Tim and Margaret Bourke have donated around 1500 books about bridge – many from the game's heyday in the 1930s and 40s – to the Library.

Malcolm Brodie

The Malcolm Brodie collection consists of around 6000 shipping images, including famous wool ships and many migrant ships. It gives an insight into life at sea between the 1880s and 1940s.

'Warrock', a complex of vernacular wooden farm buildings

John T Collins

The John T Collins collection of almost 20,000 black-and-white negatives provide a unique visual record of Victoria’s architectural heritage.

Margaret Ingham

A keen advocate of children's literature, Margaret Ingham began assembling the Library's wonderful collection of children's books in 1977.

'Hugh Buggy’s murder book', Melbourne, EJK Thompson, 1930s

JK Moir

Between the 1930s and the 1950s, Richmond resident John Kinmont Moir amassed one of the finest private libraries of Australian literature ever assembled.

Fred Riley

From 1956 to 1969, Fred Riley deposited his political and union ephemera with our Library. The Riley & Ephemera Collection continues to evolve as we add contemporary items.