What can we help you find?

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

What can we help you find?

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

Discover our collections

Fijian Australian woman with short grey hair sitting on a rock on a beach

Leigh Henningham, Portrait of Everest Pitt, 2022, nla.obj-3110047460

Oral history

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

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

Detailed shaded illustration of a Roman temple with pillars and no roof

Hardy Wilson, Temple of Neptune at Paestum, 1925, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153527636

Europe

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

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

Discover more

Latest news

A promotional image for 'The Memory Tapes' by the National Library of Australia, featuring a collage of historical photographs on the left and a warm, outdoor portrait of an elderly woman and a younger woman embracing on the right.

Bonus episode now streaming: Trailblazers: Women, Change and the Work Still Ahead

26 Oct 2026

The story of Australia’s progress cannot be told without the women who challenged expectations, reshaped institutions and fought to expand opportunities for future generations.

News

A pile of comics and graphic novels scattered over a table

What's On in November 2026 at the National Library

21 Oct 2026

With an abundance of author talks, book launches and two opportunities for the public to see rarely shown treasures from our collections, the Library is the place to be in November.

Media release

Two colourful board games relating to the 1934 MacRobertson International Air Race on a wooden table

A soaring centenary: The 1934 MacRobertson Air Race

07 Oct 2026

Learn about the thrilling 1934 London to Melbourne air race that inspired 2 board games recently added to our collection.

Blog

A group of people in colorful winter gear stand on a vast expanse of snow and ice, looking towards a large orange icebreaker ship in the distance

Felicity Jenkins, Expeditioners form a line on the sea ice off Davis Station to farewell the Aurora Australis and wintering expeditioners returning home, Antarctica, 1998, nla.obj-144071241

What's On in October 2026 at the National Library

22 Sep 2026

We’re asking big questions this month at the Library as our spring program gets into full swing.

Media release

A colorful underwater scene from the children's book 'Swimming with Aunty Isobel'. Two girls, an adult and a child, are swimming together through a vibrant coral reef filled with fish and sea life. The title and authors' names are prominently displayed.

Stunning new children’s titles releasing just in time for Christmas

01 Sep 2026

Explore the new children's titles releasing soon from NLA Publishing.

Media release

View all news

What's on

Red text reading 'Wangka Wakanutja' on a yellow background

Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

04 Apr 2026 - 31 Jan 2027

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

Exhibition

Exhibition Gallery

Online

Assistance animals welcome

Quiet hours 9:00am - 11:00am

Wheelchair accessible

A split image: left side shows a vintage black-and-white photo of people in period attire relaxing in a park with a horse-drawn cart and city buildings in the hazy background; right side shows a modern portrait of photographer Mike Bowers holding a camera against a dark backdrop. Text at the bottom reads 'FIT TO PRINT: Defining Moments from the Fairfax Photo Archive Curated by Mike Bowers'.

Book launch: Fit to Print with Mike Bowers

27 Oct 2026

Photographer and media commentator Mike Bowers has dived back into the Fairfax Photo Archive to produce this deluxe second edition of Fit to Print. Join him in conversation to discover new images, new ideas and why these images continue to strike a chord.

Event

Book launch

Talks and ideas

Assistance animals welcome

Hearing induction loop

Wheelchair accessible

A woman with dark hair pulled back smiles at the camera while leaning on a wooden table. She wears a grey blazer over a patterned blouse. Several books and open notebooks are spread across the table in front of her.

Catherine Dwyer

Suzanne Bellamy and the Australian women’s liberation movement

29 Oct 2026

Catherine Dwyer presents her recent Fellowship into the life of women’s liberationist, artist and scholar Suzanne Bellamy.

Event

Fellowship talk

Assistance animals welcome

Hearing induction loop

Wheelchair accessible

Two men engaged in conversation at a wooden table near a window. The man on the left, wearing glasses and a dark sweater, is gesturing as he speaks. The man on the right, with gray hair and a dark shirt, listens attentively. Both have mugs in front of them, and a vase with branches sits on the table. Natural light streams in from the window behind them.

Drawing the Line: Geoff Pryor and David Pope in conversation

29 Oct 2026

The Canberra Times presents Geoff Pryor and David Pope, with Sally Pryor, as they compare experiences, debate the impact of changing tools, and explore what remains at the heart of political cartooning.

Event

Talks and ideas

Assistance animals welcome

Hearing induction loop

Wheelchair accessible

View all events