We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Copy of a talk given by Don Gibb to the Canterbury History Group in June 2015 on the Elgar Survey which will be the basis of the second chapter of his forthcoming book on the social history of Canterbury. Includes maps and a list of the first Boroondara ratepayers.
187 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits, facsimiles
non-fiction
Canterbury: A History covers the history of the suburb of Canterbury, Victoria from its Aboriginal history as part of the country of the Wurundjeri people to its completed development as a middle-class suburb by the late 1950s. The book had been a labour of love by esteemed historian, Don Gibb, for many years. Don’s sudden death in late 2017 left the manuscript uncompleted. The Canterbury History Group and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, together with Don’s family, were determined to see Don’s book completed and published. Jill Barnard contributed the final two chapters dealing with the inter war and post-World War II decades.
canterbury, canterbury history, residential development, maling road
255 pages with colour and black and white illustrations; notes, bibliography, index
non-fiction
Almost hidden within religious buildings, hospitals, school chapels and civic buildings, stained-glass windows tell of Australians at war. Bronwyn Hughes focuses on commemorative stained glass—an overlooked art form—describing its rich artistic and architectural heritage and the artists and firms who created it. Memorial stained glass serves to depict and illuminate the men and women who fought and died for their faith and their country. It has a tragic beauty.
world war 1914-1918, boer war, stained glass, monuments and memorials
230 pages; illustrations, map, portraits, facsimiles
non-fiction
"The story of Annie Kennedy Gold who was abandoned at birth. Her life and times and some of the characters who crossed her path. 'Her marriage to our Grandfather, Richard Henry Archer, an account of his background history, and some memories of the family home in Glenroy."
family history, duneira, biography, genealogy
71 pages; colour photos; Includes profiles of the organisation's leaders, index of founding members and organisations supported
non-fiction
The story and celebration of Australia's largest community banking company - Canterbury Surrey Hills Community Finance Limited. A timeline of milestones over the 15 years of the company's existence with stories and summary of the development of this community banking organisation
banking, community developmment
632 pages; 32 unnumbered pages of. Includes family trees, plates : illustrations (some colour), portraits (some colour). Includes family trees, bibliography and index. Has dustcover
non-fiction
Tommy Garnett (1915-2006), reforming headmaster of two famous schools, creator of the renowned Garden of St Erth, came late to his gardening and writing career. He penned his first newspaper article on his sixty-fifth birthday. Michael Davie, editor of The Age and The Observer, soon placed Garnett in the top rank of essayists, in the best traditions of English nature writers. Professor George Seddon saw him as one of Australia's most stimulating and provocative writers - honest, witty, profoundly knowledgeable, a truly enquiring mind. What was the life that shaped the garden and the writing? This closely researched and beautifully crafted biography explores the worlds that create the remarkable man who created The Garden of St Erth.
gardeners, school principals, geelong grammar school
200 pages; : illustrations (some colour), portraits (some colour), plan, facsimiles. Includes bibliographical references (pages [180]-195) and index
non-fiction
History of the school, the people - principals, teachers, students, support staff, and volunteers - and events. The stories and memories are designed to "tell a story of Fintona's developments and changes over 120 years".
fintona girls school, schools, balwyn
74 pages; black and white illustrations and photographs, including sketches of streetscapes. Includes bibliographical references and index
non-fiction
Focussing on the growth and activities that took place in the shopping and service centre of Canterbury and Maling Roads in Canterbury from the 1880s to the present, it is partly a guide book to the present buildings of the centre through the streetscapes and brief lives of each of the premises.
canterbury road shopping centre, maling road, maling road> shops, shops, retail trade, commercial establishments, streetscapes
57 pages; colour photos
non-fiction
"This is a celebration of the centenary of one of Australia's oldest Scout groups. The history includes 2nd and 3rd Canterbury that merged with 1st Canterbury over the years."--Back cover.
scout groups, social life, canterbury scout troop
54 pages; includes black & white photos
non-fiction
"This account of the past hundred years of the Canterbury Baptist Church seeks to provide such a record by seeking reminiscences of some of the members of the congregations themselves." These reminiscences have been collected over a period of time.
canterbury baptist church, churches, reminiscences
166 pages; includes colour photos and index
non-fiction
Research and stories of the Camberwell Grammar School Old Boys who participated in World War I especially the 40 students who died.
camberwell grammar school, world war 1914-1918
283 pages; includes colour photos and index
non-fiction
"This book outline's the [Camberwell Grammar Cadets] unit's first hundred years and reveals the contributions of those who were its champions and which explain its persistence and its success. As with any institution, the people are the key, and Dr Bird introduces us to some of the heroes behind the success of the unit." (Forward - Paul Hicks, Headmaster)
camberwell grammar school, education, military training, world war 1914-1918, world war 1939-1945
98 pages; includes illustrations and black and white photographs
non-fiction
A history of Canterbury Primary School, proposed by the Heritage Committee, to celebrate the school's 100 year anniversary.
canterbury primary school, primary schools, education
74 pages; black and white illustrations and photographs, including sketches of streetscapes. Includes bibliographical references and index
non-fiction
Focussing on the growth and activities that took place in the shopping and service centre of Canterbury and Maling Roads in Canterbury from the 1880s to the present, it is partly a guide book to the present buildings of the centre through the streetscapes and brief lives of each of the premises.
canterbury road shopping centre, maling road, maling road> shops, shops, retail trade, commercial establishments, streetscapes
92 pages; photographs (largely colour) and illustrations; Includes and bibliography: p. 91-92
non-fiction
A history of heritage-listed Italianate mansion, Raheen, located at 94 Studley Park Road, Kew; its role as the residence for the Catholic archbishop [Archbishop Daniel Mannix, as well as four other Roman Catholic Archbishops of Melbourne] and its later renovation and restoration by the Pratt family.
historic buildings, raheen, kew (victoria) - history, victorian architecture
180p.; ill.; ports.; includes index
non-fiction
A history of Canterbury Girls' Secondary College, highlighting some of the teachers and students who attended
canterbury girls secondary college, high schools - victoria, schools - history, education
viii, 220 p., [4] p. of plates : ill. (some coloured)
non-fiction
A collection of stories from the history of the communities of Sandringham, Hampton, Black Rock and Beaumaris. The stories are illustrated by large photographs which span the years.
v, 75. : ill. ; Includes further reading
non-fiction
Written for historical society members who lack confidence in their ability to produce a work that is acceptable to publishers and to their potential readership. Provides advice and information on all aspects of printed and electronic publication embracing such topics as planning and financing a project, self-publishing, the structure and elements of a history book, use of illustrations, editing and design, identification and access requirements and selling the finished product. There is also a section for those societies that can afford to pay for the services of a historian to write a local history.
publishing, local history, history publishing
Black & white photographs and illustrations. Includes index
non-fiction
Provides the story of the Grey Sisters and its founder Maude O'Connell over the 50 years since its inception.
grey sisters - history, child care, religious order
191 pages; Includes black and white photographs, indexes and bibliography
non-fiction
Part 1 is a Guide to relevant holdings about aboriginal people of the PRO and Australian Archives. Part 2 is a compilation of material to illustrate the "richness and variety of the surviving record as well as the complementary nature of the two holdings".
aboriginal peoples, australian archives
150 pages. Includes photographs, bibliographical references and indexes of book and architectural work
non-fiction
"John Beswicke was a prolific architect during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. He commenced as an architect 13 years after a competition was called for the design of the first Government House in Victoria, and 10 years after the Victorian Institute of Architects was formed. The majority of Beswicke's designs were built before Federation in 1901. ... Beswicke designed buildings in and around Melbourne ... A dapper and urbane gentleman, he was a keen sporting shooter, motoring enthusiest and inventor, as well as a devoted family man. ... This book cements Beswicke's place as one of Melbourne's formost architects of his era."--Dust jacket gate fold.
architects, heritage studies, buildings - victoria, biographies
232p; photographs and illustrations
non-fiction
This book records the shops, and the changes in shop owners and types over many years from 1923
heathmont shopping centre, shopping centres, retail, melbourne - history
148 pages
non-fiction
A collection of writings by former students and staff to honour Margaret Fendley and her contribution to her years at Strathcona
strathcona baptist girls grammar school, education
Booklet was "Issued in Connection with the opening of the New Church". Titled on title page: "The Canterbury Congregation: A Short account of the Beginnings and Progress of this Suburban Charge in the Presbytery (now) of Melbourne North"
Printed booklet. Includes photographs of people associated with the church
canterbury, canterbury presbyterian church, churches, book of remembrance
Large red covered book with black and white dust cover featuring panoramic view of Princes Bridge looking North. 366 pages : photographs, 1 map, portraits. Includes bibliographical references and index
non-fiction
A book of over 700 black and white illustrations and photographs of early Melbourne scenes, mainly buildings, which have been demolished or significantly changed. The first half of the book concentrates on the CBD but includes public gardens and the Yarra River. The second half of the book looks at a number of the inner suburbs including Footscray.
historical buildings - melbourne, melbourne - history, canterbury - history
non-fiction
This book is the first to document the visual history of print advertising in Australia and in so doing provides a valuable illustrated social history of Australia. Charles Troedel (1835–1906) was a master printer and lithographer, and the face behind the production of most of Australia’s early advertising posters, product labels, and other print ephemera, as well as the iconic Melbourne Album. Troedel’s catalogue of lithographs trace the production and evolution of nineteenth century commerce and culture—in the home, at the bar, in health, hygiene and housework, with fashion and style and in leisurely pursuits—defining the legal categories under which this content was protected and the way advertising came to be regulated. A history such as this is only possible because of the well-preserved archive documenting the work of Charles Troedel and his firm Troedel & Co. This archive includes the corporate records of Troedel’s printing business spanning over a century, and nearly 10,000 copies of print specimens produced by the company, which were donated by the firm to the State Library of Victoria in 1968. The author of the book, Dr Amanda Scardamaglia, has meticulously researched this archive at the State Library Victoria. (Source: Royal Historical Society of Victoria website - https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/product/printed-on-stone-the-lithographs-of-charles-troedel-by-amanda-scardamaglia/)
advertisements, printing industry
Spiral bound; 104 pages. Includes black and white photos, glossary and index of names
non-fiction
This is the first volume of the diaries of Eustace Halley Coghill transcribed and published by his daughter Elspeth Carey. This volume covers his experiences of World War I during the years 1916-1918.
eustace halley coghill, diaries, personal accounts, world war 1914-1918
115 pages. Includes Appendix with recollections from a student
fiction
The novel is set at and around Canterbury Primary School in the suburbs of Melbourne. The central adult character is based on the real Major Patrick Maloney, the first headmaster of the school when it opened in 1908.
canterbury primary school, family relationships, girls, school life
Profiles of 191 members of the North Balwyn RSL Sub-Branch. Includes colour photographs and index of names. 197 pages
non-fiction
This book gives photographs and brief profiles of the RSL members commemorated on the Wall of Remembrance at the North Balwyn RSL Memorial Hall, which was started in the 1990's. This book celebrates its members both past and present and their commitment to the Australian defence forces in times of war and peace.
north balwyn, north balwyn rsl sub-branch, veterans, biographies, plaques, war memorials, world war 1914-1918, world war 1939-1945
Includes photographs, notes, bibliography, archival sources and index. 211 pages
non-fiction
This brings to life the stories of the Boroondara residents who were impacted by WWI, both at home and overseas, by evocatively capturing the stories of Boroondara families and individuals whose lives were irreversibly changed by WWI. It follows the Boroondara ANZACs and their passage to war and details life at the time on the Home Front. The publication acts as a lasting legacy and provides a valuable resource for future generations.
world war 1914-1918, boroondara, oral history, personal histories, australian society
Compilation of stories since Federation. Includes Black and white photographs and information about the contributors
non-fiction
Stories of the backgrounds of a cross-section of City of Boroondara residents focusing on how they came to live in Australia and in the City of Boroondara in particular. Many were based on oral histories. Foreword by Professor Emeritus Sir Gustav Nossal
immigrants, oral history, boroondara
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
