State Library

State Library
The State Library of Victoria’s Picture Collection forms a comprehensive visual record of the state and its people. The 650,000 images in the Collection constitute the oldest visual historical collection in Australia, illustrating the development of Victoria from the 1850s to the 1990s. Also included are some interstate and overseas views.
Of the Library’s Picture Collection, over 160,000 images have been digitized and made available online via the Library’s Pictures Catalogue. The Pictures Catalogue also contains some images from the Australian manuscripts, map, rare books and other special collections
The scope of the Library’s digitised content covers a diverse range of themes and collections. Content includes such subject areas as Melbourne and Victorian street scenes, buildings, ships, country views, costume, flora and fauna, portraits, Australian Aborigines, political and social events particularly of the nineteenth century, aerial views of Melbourne, factory interiors, domestic architecture, furniture, household goods and appliances, topographical, geological, botanical, agricultural and mining scenes, Federation commemorative arches and Boer War celebrations.
The State Library in Swanston Street is always worth a visit, and particularly since the refurbishment of the dome in the main reading room has been completed.