Learn about Dr Christina Thompson's experience as a Creative Arts Fellow researching the introduction of writing in Polynesia.

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Advertising campaigns for iconic Australian brands and early ads.

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British tea culture, imported with the arrival of the British in Australia in 1788, has been adapted by Australians into something distinct from its roots. One of the key early differences is the use of the ‘billy’, a lightweight metal can used most commonly for boiling water or cooking over a campfire.

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The postwar era saw advertising reflect notions of the ideal Australian home, of masculinity and feminine beauty and of health.

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Poster artists working for The Australian National Travel Association (ANTA) had to decide which pictorial styles would best convey Australia’s attractions.

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The advent of the Internet has transformed the way advertising and consumers interact with each other. Because of the personal information we share either voluntarily or involuntarily online, advertising can now be targeted to a degree that would have boggled the minds of early advertisers.

We’re calling on all Australians to help us build the next chapter of Australia’s political history by collecting ephemera from the 2025 federal election.

See a few highlights from our collection in different formats that can be used to build your architectural knowledge. 

The Library is proud to house this collection, which preserves the voices of 1,290 Australians.

The National Library of Australia in Canberra has welcomed the appointment of two Council members.