Introduction

The Place Now Called Victoria

Rural Victoria

Ned Kelly

A Jewel in the Crown

Marvellous Melbourne

Victorians at War

Victorian Stories

Victorian Stories

An Extraordinary Diversity

Victorian society today is made up of a diverse mix of Indigenous and immigrant cultures. While arrival from elsewhere has been constant since the 1830s, the greatest waves of immigration into the state have occurred in the wake of the discovery of gold and following World War II.



Migrants have brought with them their traditions and their cultures, their music and their food. Victoria's position as a centre for food and wine owes much to the Asian and European cuisines that have been brought here by new residents. In particular, Melbourne's café life has resulted from the influx of Mediterranean cultures.

Whether in the suburbs of Melbourne or remote rural areas, Victorians today work, play and celebrate culture with friends, family and community.

   

Collections and Stories

The State Library of Victoria houses a fascinating array of images and objects that reflect aspects of life in Victoria throughout the 20th and into the 21st centuries. These include major collections of photographs and artefacts from companies that have been based in Victoria, such as the Bryant & May Match Company and Coles Myer. One extraordinary collection is the W.G. Alma Conjuring Collection of books, posters and objects amassed by the magician Will Alma. Other groups of items in the collections provide insight into aspects of life in Victoria including sport, cinema and the arts. Because of the diversity and scale of these holdings, displays will be regularly changed to showcase new acquisitions and enable a wide range of stories to be told over time.


Illustrations
Top: Unknown photographer, German immigrants in the backyard of the house rented by Helene and Josef Sandl, 1961
Bottom left: Unknown photographer, Bessie Stevens and Ida Atchison, Wonthaggi, 1928
Bottom right: Unknown photographer, Bargain sale at Myer, c1960