What's on | National Library of Australia (NLA)

What's on

Explore our events, exhibitions, workshops and talks.

In the spotlight

Title page of a landscape oriented printed book: ornate engraving featuring musical performers. Scene is framed by theatre curtains.

James Hook, Guida di Musica: Being a Complete Book of Instructions for Beginners on the Harpsichord or Piano Forte, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8650184

The Excellencies of Musick: Highlights from the Jamie and Michael Kassler Collection
03 Dec 2024 - 17 Aug 2025

Enter the musical world of seventeenth and early nineteenth century Britain with rare prints, books and manuscripts.

Exhibition
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Orange and black stylised image of a house
The Australian Dream? with Tim Ross
04 Apr 2025

Hear Tim Ross discuss the telling images he uncovered from public libraries that reveal a multi-decade story of Australian homes and home ownership.

Event
Talks and ideas
Anticlockwise from the bottom right hand corner: two people sitting on a bench in a gallery, looking at the Mabo wall displays. One person is standing up looking at a framed poster. Another person is standing at the back of the gallery space looking at botanical artworks.  Another person is blurred as they walk through the space.
Treasures Gallery
Daily

The Treasures Gallery showcases the extraordinary holdings of the National Library of Australia.

Exhibition
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Four framed pictures hanging on a wall that has an image of an island on it.
Mabo v Queensland (No. 2): 30th Anniversary
Daily

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mabo decision, the Library invited Gail Mabo, Eddie’s daughter, to select material for display to mark this landmark moment in Australian legal history.

Exhibition
First Australians
Treasures Gallery
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Anticlockwise from the bottom right hand corner: two people sitting on a bench in a gallery, looking at the Mabo wall displays. One person is standing up looking at a framed poster. Another person is standing at the back of the gallery space looking at botanical artworks.  Another person is blurred as they walk through the space.
Treasures Gallery
Daily

The Treasures Gallery showcases the extraordinary holdings of the National Library of Australia.

Exhibition
Treasures Gallery
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Title page of a landscape oriented printed book: ornate engraving featuring musical performers. Scene is framed by theatre curtains.

James Hook, Guida di Musica: Being a Complete Book of Instructions for Beginners on the Harpsichord or Piano Forte, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8650184

The Excellencies of Musick: Highlights from the Jamie and Michael Kassler Collection
03 Dec 2024 - 17 Aug 2025

Enter the musical world of seventeenth and early nineteenth century Britain with rare prints, books and manuscripts.

Exhibition
Treasures Gallery
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible

Events

Explore more

Orange, brown and white painting hung in the main reading room

Minnie Lumai (b. 1940), Yab-yab-gnerni-gnim (Sugarbag Dreaming), 2009, natural ochre on canvas ; 130 x 125 cm, Main Reading Room.

Two young women having morning tea at the Bookplate cafe

Bookplate cafe

People reading and talking in a large, sunny room at tables, desks and computer stations

Main Reading Room

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