Spring into the National Library this September and see new ideas blossom when you attend our events!

Plant the seeds of creativity this month and watch your ideas grow.

Discover the Whelan Collection, a remarkable archive of Australian literature with over 1,000 autographed books, manuscripts, and letters from 1892 to 1967. Collected by bibliophile Philip Whelan, it offers a rare glimpse into Australia’s rich storytelling heritage and vibrant literary culture.

When you visit us, you might be surprised there aren’t rows of bookshelves. Find out how the Library works.

For many centuries Europeans believed there must be a vast land in the southern hemisphere, variously called ‘Terra Australis Incognita’ from the Latin for ‘Unknown South Land’.

Unfortunately, architectural plans have not commonly been kept as archives. This is particularly the case for commercial and residential buildings. However, there are a number of resources which you can try.

Personal papers of Patrick White, plus letters from White to other Australian writers acquired as part of their papers. Also papers of White's biographer David Marr and those of the artist and theatre designer Desmond Digby who had a long friendship with White.

The Friends annual 'White Gloves' event offers a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with highlights from the National Library's Collection.

Topic

How did our national story take shape? In this lesson, students explore how and why Captain James Cook has been portrayed so prominently in Australian history.

With support from Principal Patron Jane Hemstritch AO, Wilfred Burchett’s papers have been made available on Trove.