Acclaimed artist Matt Aberline gave an engaging talk on The Guardians, his latest large-scale installation at the National Library of Australia.

500 years have now passed since Ferdinand Magellan’s famous voyage, the most audacious in maritime history. In his new book East by West, Allen Mawer closely examines the historical sources, charts and eyewitness records, considering afresh what we know of Magellan and the details of his voyage.

The Friends of the National Library of Australia were pleased to host an online discussion with critically acclaimed writer and multiple award winner, Dervla McTiernan.

Celia Craig presented a lecture on her 2024 Creative Arts Fellowship research on the early life of teenage musical virtuoso and synesthete Dr Miriam Hyde.

Authors Tess Scholfield-Peters, André Dao and Sam Vincent, in conversation with broadcast journalist Virginia Haussegger

A full-day seminar on Australia's migration history.

Dr Bernadette Brennan presented a lecture on her 2024 National Library Fellowship research into the archives of award-winning author and editor Drusilla Modjeska.

A fascinating panel discussion that explored the issues faced by Australian women with Indian heritage.

Professor Nicholas Terpstra discussed where we can find youths in the histories of the early modern world and how they might reshape our understanding of the early modern period.

We had dinner at Bookplate with renowned photojournalist, and guest curator of our Fit to Print exhibition, Mike Bowers.