Black and white photograph of the Aborigines Advancement League Headquarters, Melbournesilver gelatin, paper

"Victoria the Golden" documents life in Victoria between 1850 and 1862 as viewed by artist William Strutt. Momentous events in the Colony’s history such as Separation Day (1 July 1851), the sitting of the first Legislative Council (13 November 1851), the death of Burke (June 1861) and the Black Thursday bushfires (6 February 1851) are depicted. In 1907 the Premier of Victoria Thomas Bent purchased "Victoria the Golden" from Strutt for £120 and presented it to the Library. The album depicts events in chronological order with what Strutt considered “fidelity to nature and accuracy”, so that present day Victorians may view the sketches “as records of what we may now look upon as the dim past in the rapidly progressive history of Victoria”. Victoria the Golden is celebrated as one of the Parliament’s great treasures. It is a testament to William Strutt’s skill as a draughtsman and contains over 100 assorted images which were executed between the years of 1850-1862. Strutt’s particular talent was to be able to step back and record each event with particular care to detail. Many of the pieces contained within this album are littered with notes, such as the correct resting position of a corporal’s sword or details about the cloth and cut of a subject’s jacket. Strutt also notes in one of his many sketches of the new Legislative Council chamber at Spring Street that the President, Sir James Palmer, is seated ‘a little too high’ (page 30). Throughout the album, Strutt’s illustrations bring to life the diverse nature and peoples of the new colony. His range of subjects is comprehensive and includes parliamentarians, lawyers, wives and daughters, merchants, labourers, police and military officers, indigenous communities, farmers, miners, prisoners and explorers. The everyday and the extraordinary are depicted with each turn of the page. 44 leaves heavy card, approximately 1mm thick. Sketches, watercolours and prints of varying sizes and papers are glued onto the pages. Full leather binding in blue leather with title and decorative border in gold. There are four raised bands on the spine, with gold decoration on the bands and at the head and tail of the spine. Marbled end papers and flyleaves. Gold on the edges of the book block. Card pages have a sheet of mottled blue paper on recto. Album leaf connection is a guarded system with stiff stubs and cloth hinges. Each page has a sheet of glassine paper attached at the binding edge to protect the images. Many pages stamped with "Parliament of Victoria" verso. Printed in gold, recto: "VICTORIA THE GOLDEN/ SCENES,/ SKETCHES,/ AND JOTTINGS FROM NATURE./ BY/ Wm. STRUTT/ MELBOURNE, VICTORIA./ 1850-1862" First pages include handwritten 'introductory remarks' and index of plates.parliament of victoria, colony of victoria, separation day, victorian legislative council, burke and wills expedition, wills, william john, 1834-1861, burke, robert o'hara, 1821-1861, strutt, william, 1825-1915, bent, thomas sir, 1838-1909, native police corps, fawkner, john pascoe, 1792-1869, black thursday bushfires, gold rush, princes bridge, melbourne

Queen Victoria’s appreciation of German artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873) began after she saw portraits by him of other European monarchs. Accordingly, between 1842 and 1861 he made fifteen visits to England and painted over 100 portraits of Her Majesty, the royal family and other friends and dignitaries. In 1843 Winterhalter was commissioned to paint matching portraits of Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort. These originals hang in the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle and are part of the UK Royal Collection. Many legitimate copies of Winterhalter’s portrait were produced and presented to the Parliaments of the British Empire, including the Parliament of Victoria. Such copies are referred to as “After F. X. Winterhalter” and artists responsible include William Corden and John Prescott Knight. When creating copies, artists were not restricted by the size of the original portrait. Walterhalter’s original is 2.7m x 1.7m whereas copies can reach an impressive 4.5 metres in height. The portrait that hangs in Queens Hall at the Parliament of Victoria is not signed. Comparison with other copies of the work suggest that the Parliament’s painting may have been completed by William Corden. The Government Art Collection (United Kingdom), has a Queen Victoria copy in their collection and Parliament’s portrait has similar traits. A copy by John Prescott Knight which hangs in the Legislative Council in the Parliament of Tasmania is quite different, particularly with reference to the shape of the young Queen’s face, which is rounder in the Corden portraits.This portrait of Queen Victoria was presented as a gift by the British Government to the Parliament of Victoria in April 1860. Painted on fine linen supplied under Royal Warrant by the workshop Winsor and Newton, London, the frame has been embellished with elaborate wooden carvings. Framed portrait, oil on linen, of Queen Victoria. Victoria is posed in front of a curtain partially obscuring a building (possibly Buckingham Palace) in the background. Timber frame with a layer of gesso and decorative composition ornaments. There are rose, scotch thistle, clover leaf and Acanthus ornaments. A carved wood and composition element crown, resting on a tassled pillow sits on top of the frame.Canvas unsigned. Verso printed: ‘WINSOR AND NEWTON / Rathbone Place, London’. Embossed stamp into stretcher wood, stamped ‘Winsor and Newton’ in black ink.victoria queen of great britain, 1819-1901, winterhalter, franz xaver, 1805-1873, corden, william, queens hall, parliament of victoria

This photograph of John Pascoe Fawkner was commissioned by artist William Strutt in 1857. In 1907 Strutt gave the photograph to Victoria's London agent, Mr. Lake, to be presented to the Victorian Parliamentary Library. In a letter to Mr. Lake now in the library's archives, Strutt describes how he had planned to make use of the photograph in his artistic practice, and when finished with it, had promised to give the photograph to the Victorian Parliamentary Librarian Charles Ridgway (c.1801-1865). "That time then has come, late it is true, but alas Mr. Ridgeway [sic] is dead, so is Fawkner, but the old patriot will ever live in this portrait".Framed ambrotype portrait photograph of John Pascoe Fawkner seated and wearing a smoking cap. Note from William Strutt adhered verso. The ambrotype is a positive photographic image on a glass plate mounted inside a glazed frame with a gold-coloured inner-frame/preserver (possibly celluloid) and black velvet-covered backing board. Handwritten black ink verso: "John Pasco [sic] Fawkner/ This admirable portrait/ of the Founder of Melbourne is now presented in/ fulfilment of my/ promise (made years/ ago to the late Mr/ Ridgeway) to present it/ to the Parliament House/ Library of Melbourne./ William Strutt./ Wedsmnt [?] Dec' 18.1007."strutt, william, 1825-1915, fawkner, john pascoe, 1792-1869, ridgway, charles c.1801-1865, victorian parliamentary library

St Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17 March. A St Patrick's Day March was held in Ballarat. According to the Ballarat Courier of 03 February 1916 a festival was organised in Ballarat to celebrate St Patrick's Day: "ST PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL - There was an excellent attendance last night at St. Patrick's Hall to make a rangments for the annual celebration of St. Patrick's Day Festival. Mr A. W. Hager occupied the chair. The date allotted by the V.R.C. committee, Friday, 24th March, was accepted, and the festival will take place on that date, with the usual race meeting on the Miners' Racecourse, and entertainment at Her Majesty's Theatre in the evening. The secretary was instructed to appeal for the hearty co-operation of the different societies, and to ask for a holiday on 24th March. The amount of stakes and the racing programme were left in the hands of racing committee, whose report will be dealt with at the next meeting. The following officials were appointed to carry out the celebrations:--Chairman, Very Rev. Father Kennelly; vice-chairmen, Rev. Father Henneberry, T. J. O'Loughlin, and A. W. Hager; general manager, Mr M. Newton; Secretary; Mr F. T. Kierce; treasurer, Mr William White; collecting secretaries, Revs. Fathers Kennelly and Henneberry; entertainment. Mesers D. J.Ward, J. Morrisey, Fraser Hussy, Chris Hager, Shelly, Dr Spring, Dr Kelly, J.J. Coglan, P. Thornton, Jasper Coghlan, Jas Early; finance committee, Revs. Kennelly, Henneberry, Messrs White, T. Foley, Dr Spring, Brophy, Shelley. All present with power to add wore appointed a general committee. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting."Black and white photographic reproduction of the 1916 St Patrick's Day March in Sturt Street, Ballarat. A band leads the parade, a horse drawn float carries a banner "Unity of Peace & War" with hundreds following as part of the parade. ballarat irish, st patrick's day, st patrick's day march, ballarat, hager, kennelly, henneberry, o'loughlin, kierce, white, ward, morrisey, fraser, hussy, shelly, kelly, spring, coglan, foley, brophy

Building in background possibly still exists at Austin hospital siteBlack and white photograph of ambulance wagon with one horse in front of buildingAustin Hospital Ambulance given by William Drummondwilliam drummond

An early 1800s B&W photographPlaque at front bottom centre of frame.

Cypriot White Painted Ware from the MIddle/Late Cypriot Bronze Age. Slipped, Painted, HandmadeBeak spout and neck painted with black horizontal lines, the body with traces of crosshatched triangles cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Middle/Late Cypriot Bronze AgeThe beak spout and neck with black horizontal lines, the body with traces of cross-hatched triangles. Handle is missing.cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from the Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe curved collar with three black lines and frieze of red triangles, the upper body with two rows of concentric circles between vertical double ribbed strap handles, the body with black and red horizontal lines and bands. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geomteric PeriodWith two black bands around the inside of the mouth, the rim with sets of trapezoids and painted around edge, over a red band in cavetto under rim, the neck with frieze containing a panel centred with chequerboard diamond, the central square within painted red, broad band to shoulder, a black wavy line between painted twin horizontal loop handles (one missing), the lower body as a single band with a set of lines below it, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe inside of the mouth painted with red and black lines, the rim painted outside, the tapering neck with frieze of concentric circles between horizontal lines and bands, continuing over shoulder, the body with two friezes of concentric circles divided by two lines between painted horizontal twin loop handles, over a set of horizontal lines between bands, set of three bands on lower body. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe neck and body with horizontal dark and light black lines and bands, the body with a frieze of concentric circles between painted twin horizontal loop handles (one missing). cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodBlack band around mouth and exterior of rim, triangles alternating with blank panels on rim, the neck with red band over sets of black lines and bands, a central crosshatched panel flanked by vertical lines, the shoulder with frieze of triangles flanked by lines, alternating with zigzag panels flanked vertical lines, a wavy black line between painted twin horizontal loop handles over three bands, single band on lower body, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior with black concentric bands, the rim and twin pierced lug handles painted black, the exterior with black bands and lines encircling red band, the base of foot with concentric black circles within band. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior with black concentric circles, the exterior with painted twin wishbone handles, continuing to concentric black bands and and lines and red concentric band encircled by black lines and bands, within pairs of opposed chequerboard triangles and crosshatched diamond and triangle, the four flanked by lines (one handle missing). cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior with two black concentric band and circles, the rim and twin pierced lug handles painted, The base with flower motif encircled by concentric bands and lines. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior with black concentric band and circles, continuing to exterior with twin pierced lug handles, a broad red band around foot, the base with two concentric black circles and band. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior with black spiral, the rim and twin loop handles painted to the exterior with sets of bands, repeated under the foot. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior with black concentric band and circles, the rim painted, the exterior with two sets of concentric lines, the handles originally painted red, a broad red band, black line and band around foot, the base with central dot and set of three concentric circles. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe exterior painted with sets of concentric black circles, the handles originally painted red. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodWith an inward turning rim, two bands are painted on the inside of the twin loop handles (one missing). The interior has a painted dot and a set of concentric lines between two painted bands. The exterior has a broad band painted beneath the handles, a set of concentric black circles and a broad red band at the foot. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior has a painted black spiral in the centre and a single band. The rim is painted to the twin wishbone handles (one missing). Another band at the foot, with a set of lines between, the underside is centred with a brown dot and three concentric lines. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior is centred with three black bands and a set of concentric lines, another line is painted from the rim, and a pair of pierced lug handle. The exterior with sets of concentric bands and lines, broad red band to foot, underside centred with black dot and three bands cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe interior is painted with a black band and sets of concentric lines. The rim is painted to twin pierced lug handles. Another set of black lines in found on the exterior. A broad red band and a set of lines run towards the painted foot, underside with concentric lines. cypriot