Photographs of Australian steamships, nine paintings and an unpublished manuscript 'Dictionary of Australian steamships' by Terence Callen.

About 15,000 books and pamphlets. The great strength of the collection is in Pacific voyages and early Australiana with many very rare items. Also manuscripts including papers of Joseph Banks, maps and pictures.

About 350 photographs, including glass negatives, and a small number of pencil sketches, majority depicting paddle steamers sailing or moored on the Murray or Darling rivers.

About 5,000 books, pamphlets and periodicals, over 11,000 paintings, drawings and prints, around 800 maps and over 300 manuscripts mostly published 1770–1900. Largely relating to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific including Antarctica.

About 2,100 books, pamphlets, government publications, tourist booklets, magazines and other works about Mauritius and the Indian Ocean. Mostly in French or English, but also a few items in Mauritian Creole.

Explore handwritten diaries that can now be read online.

Our Special Collections Research & Support team are back with answers to more common questions that can help can uncover your ancestors' migration story.

Our Special Collections Research & Support team have answered common questions that can help can uncover your ancestor’s migration story.

Learn about the real school ship Sobraon behind Sarah Luke and NLA Publishing's children's book Marion and the Forty Thieves.

Explore letters written by Dorothy Richmond about her experience travelling to Europe with the 1924 Australian Olympic team.

Dr Adam Sundberg talks about his experience studying the environmental effects of marine bioinvasions through the study of ballast water.

Over 32,000 items, including rare books, pamphlets, maps, and ephemera, covering topics such as Oceania, transport, and literature. Compiled by Sir John Alexander Ferguson, it is a key resource for Australian history and bibliography.