Speakers: Jane Sullivan and Lucy Sussex Melbourne has always had its underbelly of crime, inspiring crime fiction detectives from Mary Fortune and Fergus Hume to Peter Temple’s ‘Jack Irish’. Join Jane, whose latest novel Murder in Punch Lane, is a thriller inspired by real events and people in 1868 Melbourne, and Lucy, who in 2025 will publish Outrageous Fortunes, a
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Experience the complex richness of Labassa’s architectural and human history. Although more than 700 people have lived at Labassa, it has miraculously survived with most of its opulent Victorian era decoration intact. Guided house tours and tower tours operate through out the day, and the tea room is open 10.30am to 3.30pm. Join us for
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In September 2023, the MCC Library celebrated its 150th anniversary. To mark this milestone, 150 items were selected from the collection, to be rotated as part of a special display throughout the year. During Melbourne Rare Book Week, the chosen items will all feature the Olympic Games, to coincide with the 2024 Paris Games opening on
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Some rambles with the Campbells – The life and times of Western District pastoralist politician, and Anglican vicar, Colin Campbell (1817-1903) and his family. This talk with Dr. Ian Clark will cover Colin Campbell and his wife Frances Campbell (née McWhirter) and their relationship with the Djabwurrung Aboriginal people of the Buangor district. Colin Campbell
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Speaker: Fiona Campbell What are the Sands and McDougall directories? These often-massive volumes were produced from 1857 to 1974 and are an invaluable resource for local and family history research. Find out how you can access and use them for your research, and enjoy some of their more entertaining aspects, with local history librarian, Fiona
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Presented by Jodi Kok A look at the life and exploits of E.W. Cole, creator of Cole’s Funny Picture Book and owner of the famous Cole’s Book Arcade. Cole was a canny businessman, a visionary, and a true believer in everyone having the right to access books. We will take a look at some treasures from the Library’s
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Cultural archaeology in Haunted Hotham Speaker: Sean Reynolds You’ve likely stumbled upon them, roaming the winding streets of North Melbourne—ghost signs, those timeworn remnants of advertisements past, keepers of tales hidden in plain sight. Join Sean, the madcap maestro behind the Instagram cult-hit ‘Melbourne Ghost Signs’, for a night drenched in stories, histories and mysteries. Rendezvous
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📜 Rare Book and Materials Collecting in Libraries: past, present and future. Join Ellen Coates (PMI Victorian History Library - Collections Librarian and Volunteer Coordinator), Jillian Hiscock (Royal Historical Society of Victoria - Collections Manager and Volunteer Coordinator) and Anne Holloway (Monash University - Manager of Special Collections) in a panel discussion of how libraries
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