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Stories

Discover curiosities, treasures and the latest inspiring stories from our community and inside the Library

people walking past pillared hall with central tables
19 December 2019

Revealing The Ian Potter Queen's Hall

Watch the stunning transformation of the Library's original 1856 reading room into the majestic The Ian Potter Queen's Hall.

A woman spins a cricket ball against a pink backdrop
17 December 2019

One object many stories: The Ashes

Listen to a fascinating talk on the stories and significance of cricket's 'sacred soot'.

smiling people seated in public space waving at camera
06 December 2019

Our new spaces are now open

Watch the grand opening of our new spaces!

05 December 2019

Discover your transformed Library

Your new sanctuary in the city is here to discover!

Photo of Morten Schmidt
03 December 2019

Designing a world-class library

Learn how world-class libraries are designed in this talk by Morten Schmidt, whose firm SHL co-led the design of the Library's new spaces.

Sepia portrait of a woman in Victorian clothes
30 November 2019

The women who invented The Ashes Urn

Howzat! Gideon Haigh tells of two Australian women's pivotal contribution to a gentleman's game.

Two books lay open on a pillow, their pages filled with cursive handwriting
30 November 2019

An eyewitness account of the Eureka Stockade

Read about historian Clare Wright's painstaking efforts to identify the anonymous author of a rare goldfields diary.

A woman and man play guitar in a grand, two-storeyed Victorian room
30 November 2019

The Orbweavers

Watch a video with 2016 Creative Fellows Marita Dyson and Stuart Flanagan from the Orbweavers, discussing their inspirational research into West Melbourne's waterways.

Ned Kelly's armour
29 November 2019

Ned Kelly's armour

Step inside the iconic suit of armour worn by Ned Kelly on the day he was arrested at Glenrowan.

wooden dais with seated library attendant
28 November 2019

The dais in the dome

Go behind the scenes to learn what the dais in the heart of the La Trobe Reading Room was used for.

Sun Soap illustration with smiling sun
28 November 2019

The Chief Librarian and the soap thieves

Learn how the Library's Chief Librarian tracked down a gang of soap thieves in the 1880s.

art deco department store
28 November 2019

Melbourne's lost department stores

Mourn the loss of Melbourne's famous department stores, in particular Manton's and Georges.