Treasures of the Library: Victorian military helmet

In this episode of Treasures of the Library, Principal Librarian Tim Hogan discusses the origins of a rather grandiose and elegant helmet held in the State Library's collection.

The helmet was worn by a member of Victoria's volunteer forces, which was formed in response to the Crimean War. It's quite decorative, featuring a large plume made of horse hair, and was likely worn for ceremonial purposes rather than in battle.

Watch the video above for Tim's insights into the treasure, and take a closer look at the item in our catalogue.

About Treasures of the Library

This member exclusive video series, hosted by expert librarians, delves into the Library’s collection to highlight some of its most fascinating and precious items.

More to explore

• Watch our previous episodes of Treasures of the Library, which explore the first map of Melbourne's CBD and the magic of blow books.
• Watch a lecture about State Library Victoria's military history collection, by Steven Kafkarisos.