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What can we help you find?

Not sure where to start or need help? Ask a Librarian

Latest news

A photograph of Christina Stead, a cover of the book 'For Love Alone', a handwritten manuscript page, a photograph of The Bushwackers and Mary Gilmore, a photograph of Judith Wright, a cover of the book 'A Human Pattern: Selected Poems', arranged left-to-right.

2026 Appeal: Australian Women Writers

08 May 2026

This year, we seek your support for an ambitious project to bring the voices and stories of over twenty Australian women writers to Trove for the very first time.

News

Three individuals walking through the main reading rooms

Twenty Australian women writers’ archives set for digitisation through 2026 Appeal

11 May 2026

The National Library of Australia is seeking donations for an ambitious project to bring the manuscript collections of twenty Australian women writers to Trove for the very first time.

Media release

A braille alphabet chart. Each letter of the alphabet is in a large white circle with the corresponding braille code for that letter below it. The background of the chart is blue.

Braille Alphabet, courtesy Braille House

Community Heritage Grant: Braille House

01 May 2026

Learn about Braille House's journey through the Community Heritage Grants program.

Blog

Handwritten letter, written in cursive on aged paper, signed Andrew Somervaille noting that he is a prisoner of war, that he is well, and to send on his love to Barbara, Ian and the recipient of the letter

Folder 2, Papers of Andrew Somervaille, 1945. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-4141920430

Australians in Asia during WWII

01 May 2026

Thanks to the support of Principal Patron Jane Hemstritch AO, papers detailing the experience of Australians in Asia during the Second World War are now available on Trove.

News

A women wearing a pink t-shirt with the words 'She Shapes History' delivers a guided tour in front of several flagpoles

Where are the women in the story of Australia?

28 Apr 2026

The National Library of Australia announces partnership with She Shapes History.

Media release

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Discover our collections

A group of women marches down a city street, holding various protest signs. Signs include messages like "Sexism is alive & living in Australia" and "Dress for comfort, not for style." A large sculpture is visible in the background.

John McKinnon, Women on the march wave their placards at the International Women's Day march, Melbourne, March 8, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137045864

Feminism and women leaders

A family dressed for a wedding laughs as they sit together on a couch

Conor Ashleigh, Bridal couple Achol and Marial and their bridal party, Sydney, December, 2013, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-506867692

Family history and genealogy

People watch lion dances in Chinatown Plaza in Adelaide

Jiayuan Liang, Chung Yee Tong Lion Dance Team performing lion dances, Chinese New Year, Chinatown, Adelaide, 2022, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3125334254

Asia

Illustration of a tree branch with leaves. Some of it it coloured in and some left white

William T. Cooper, Corymbia confertiflora (Kippist) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson, family Myrtaceae, Chillagoe, Queensland, February 2003, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1728333879

Visual arts

Vincent Lingiari and two other men seated

Michael Jensen, Vincent Lingiari at Wattie Creek [(Daguragu), Northern Territory] when they had water on tap, 1977, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137086604

First Australians

Large wall of bookshelves with hundreds of colourful books

Literature and writing

Black and white sketch of costume for the Princess-Mother in Swan Lake, with swatches of fabrics around the edges

Kristian Fredrikson, Costume and set sketches, Swan Lake (New Zealand) Act 1, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3160686825

Performing arts

A streetscape of Bourke street, Melbourne.

Tom Roberts, Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1885, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134285521

Local history

Black and white photo of a man in a suit holding a large old camera

Harold Cazneaux holding a camera, Sydney, ca. 1905, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-144119446

Photography

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What's on

Red text reading 'Wangka Wakanutja' on a yellow background

Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

04 Apr - 11 Oct 2026

Explore the decades-long, remarkable efforts of the Papunya community to record language and culture and keep it alive.

Exhibition

Exhibition Gallery

Assistance animals welcome

Quiet hours 9:00am - 11:00am

Wheelchair accessible

A man with glasses wearing a black button-down shirt in the National Library of Australia's Special Collections Reading Room

Dr Matthew Lamb

The 'archival imagination' of Frank Moorhouse

19 May 2026

Dr Matthew Lamb presents his recent Fellowship research on Frank Moorhouse’s ‘archival imagination’, exploring how his methods shaped his work and identity.

Event

Fellowship talk

Assistance animals welcome

Hearing induction loop

Wheelchair accessible

A monastery and other buildings with mountains with snow on top in the background

Monastery of Tsarang, Mustang. Source: Image from lecturer.

Journey across the Himalayas

19 May 2026

ArtsNational Canberra and Zara Fleming present a lecture focusing on the Buddhist areas of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.

Event

Talks and ideas

Assistance animals welcome

Hearing induction loop

Wheelchair accessible

Shelves of books on display in a Library

12 years in: Writing for the Future Library (2014-2114)

20 May 2026

Learn about the Future Library (2014-2114) project—a hundred-year literary artwork and one of the most internationally acclaimed long-term cultural projects of our time. Curator and producer Anne Beate Hovind appears in conversation with Kathryn Favelle.

Event

Assistance animals welcome

Hearing induction loop

Wheelchair accessible

View all events