A tour of the State Library

 On 8 April we did an historical tour of the State Library of Victoria.  It covered both the history of the Library and some of the History of Victoria covered by their collections.  After finding our way to the appointed meeting spot - more of a challenge than it should have been - we set off, with 10 (plus our guide) in our group.  This staircase used to the main way the librarians got books from the stacks.  It is now closed off on OHAS grounds.

The two murals which follow are in the main marble staircase.
Presumably this was somewhere around Beersheeba.  The slouch hats say "Australians" but I don't recall the Light Horse including camels!
This is the Ian Potter Queens Hall.  The link mentions the Ian Potter Foundation providing $10 million to refurbish this room!
This is one of the original desks.
The room has many uses: filming is one of them, but I didn't go stickybeaking.
The Dome Reading Room: surely one of the best such facilities in the world.
I didn't realise Bolte was around that long.
The roof of the Dome.
A memorial to the librarians who volunteered in WW1.
For some reason this work reminded me of that of Ian Abdulla from the SA Riverland.
This painting is of the Princes Bridge in 1905 and much is still recognisable.  The NGV is built on the industrial sit in Southbank.  Apparently property owners in Flinders St used to visit to check the artist had shown their property correctly.
The audiovisual room> the nearest screen was showing a microfilm about the Boomtown Rats!
This tapestry was called the Gordian Knot.
On looking closely there are many recognisable items.  I have labelled a few.
Noticed on the shelves.
So Mayland - my home from 1951 until 1969 - had a population of 126 in 1900.  It had grown to 334 in 1970 (just after I left as a £10 Pom).  

After finishing the tour we went to check a photographic exhibition recommended by our guide.
It was loud and excellent, mainly a set of slides which took 30 minutes to work through. These next few were images of pop stars.  I missed the images of AC/DC including Bon Scott with a very young Angus Young - not in uniform but the soundtrack for 30 seconds was the band in bull bore.
Slim.
Dylan
Jagger - about half (or less) his current age.
His work featured many images of the gay community in colourful forms!
I am not sure of the story - or genetics - behind this.
Some things don't change!  A peace protest (he had several images from Vietnam Moratoria).
A message for Herr Kipfler - these  folk will now be in their 60, but still voting.


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