Travelling Treasures

Each year the State Library of Victoria's collection experts take to the road with a selection of the Library's treasures. The Travelling Treasures program offers audiences the chance to see some of our most precious collection items and ask questions about them.

What's on tour?

This selection of treasures from the Library features items that celebrate Victoria's literary culture, both past and present. Drawn from The Independent Type: books and writing in Victoria, the State Library's major exhibition for 2009, the items cover examples of what makes Victorian writing unique, from the early days of settlement to the modern era.

Capturing 19th-century colonial life

• Melbourne Advertiser - Number 2, 1838 
  The second issue of John Pascoe Fawkner's handwritten newspaper.
  
• The Eureka Stockade, 1855
  Raffaello Carboni's unique first-hand account of the miners' uprising in Ballarat.
  
• Jerilderie Letter, 1879
  Two pages from the original letter dictated by Edward (Ned) Kelly, penned by Joe Byrne.

Publishing stories of the 20th century

• Ern Malley documents, 1944
  Two letters and a telegram that show the uncovering of the Ern Malley hoax.
  
• Sonya Hartnett's early career, 1983-4
  Two letters and a remittance notice from Sonya's first attempt at getting published.

When and where?

The treasures will be displayed at free evening talks given by the State Library's heritage collection experts at public libraries. During the day, Library education staff will present the treasures to primary school students at local schools (October only).

• October - Lakes Entrance, Sale, Traralgon
• November - Frankston

The items listed above will continue to tour Victoria in 2010 and 2011. More information will be available on this website in 2010.

See the Travelling Treasures Program for more information about times, venues and bookings.