About
The Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection (GRSC) facilitates research into, and interpretation of, not only the Gippsland region, but also of rural and regional Australia. Present collection strengths include the history, literature, Aboriginal cultures, education, land use, environment and natural resources, and social structure of Gippsland.
These materials include unique photographs and maps of rural and regional Victoria with a focus on Gippsland from the mid-1880s to the 1980s. The photograph collection consists mainly of black and white photographic prints. There are also 35mm colour slides, colour photographic prints and transparencies and postcards. The images cover a large and diverse geographical area, reflecting industrial development, agriculture, country towns and people of the region. Some of the items are photographic copies of originals held elsewhere, such as the State Library of Victoria or a private collection. The maps generally relate to Gippsland and Victoria and include maps of varying scale.
The Collection is managed by the Federation University Library, and materials are only available for use within the Collection reading room. The Collection holdings can be identified through Library QuickSearch (https://federation.edu.au/library), Trove and the GippsDoc indexes. Digitised images can be accessed through Trove and ResearchOnline (https://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Index). However, most archival materials are not available digitally.
Updates on goings-on in the Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection can be found at the Friends of the GRSC facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofGRSC)
Our collection
Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection (1985)
Established in 1985, the Centre for Gippsland Studies was developed as a resource centre for Gippsland heritage by senior lecturer in History Patrick Morgan. It was initially under the management of David Tuck, before Dr Meredith Fletcher was appointed manager.
As well as establishing a permanent collection, the Centre engaged in research and publishing. In 1986 the first edition of the "Gippsland Heritage Journal" was published under the Kapana Press imprint, with Meredith Fletcher as editor and Linda Barraclough and Deborah Squires responsible for design and production. Over twenty years 30 issues were published. The journal attracted a local, academic and genealogical audience with a wide circulation that promoted the work of the Centre.
In early 2018 the management of the collection transferred from the School of Arts to the Federation University Library. The rooms were modified to accommodate the collection, office and a reading room, and was renamed the Gippsland and Regional Studies Collection (GRSC). The centre produced indexes and bibliographies, conducted research to increase knowledge and awareness of the Gippsland region, supported teaching programs and became an important centre for liaison with the general Gippsland community, State authorities and other relevant institutions.
The GRSC collection continues the early goals of providing a resource centre for Gippsland Heritage and boasts a comprehensive collection covering the Gippsland region, including towns such as Walhalla, Yallourn; and subjects such as coal mining. The collection includes published works, manuscript material, journals, photographs, maps and more. Many are the only copies held in Gippsland.
Themes: Shaping Victoria's Environment, Peopling Victoria's Places & Landscapes, Connecting Victorians by transport and communications, Transforming and managing land and natural resources, Building Victoria's industries and workforce, Building towns, cities and the garden state, Governing Victorians, Building community life, Shaping cultural and creative life
