Events from May 14, 2018 – October 7, 2018 – Royal Historical Society of Victoria

  • Gotcha! Concrete Prints from the McEwans Celebrity Pavement

    City Gallery 110 Swanston Street, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Who remembers the McEwans celebrity pavement?
    Between 1972 and 1994, scores of celebrities had their hand- and footprints immortalised in cement at the entrance of the McEwans hardware store in Bourke Street. Shopping for a hammer or a hair-dryer, you’d step in the prints of actors, musicians, sportspeople, writers, dancers, politicians, an astronaut, a racehorse – even an operatic dog.
    Curated by Robyn Annear, 'Gotcha!' presents 40 of the surviving prints from the McEwans pavement, together with stories of the celebrities who made them and newspaper images that capture the mood of the times.

    Free
  • In Search of the Last Continent: Melbourne and early Antarctic exploration

    RHSV Gallery Downstairs 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    In 1886 gentlemen from Victoria's Royal Society and Geographical Society formed a joint Australian Antarctic Exploration Committee. With the ear of the Premier and his Agent General in London, they energetically pursued a joint whaling and scientific expedition. They came tantalising close to their goal and helped inspire the first landing and the first overwintering on the Antarctic continent. Through both published and unpublished items from the RHSV, join librarian and author Andrew McConville to explore this and other stories of early Antarctic exploration.

    Free
  • Some Rambles with the Campbells

    39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, Australia

    Some rambles with the Campbells – The life and times of Western District pastoralist politician, and Anglican vicar, Colin Campbell (1817-1903) and his family. This talk with Dr. Ian Clark
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    Free
  • Family History Workshops

    Family History Workshops

    39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, Australia

    👩🏽‍👩🏽‍👦🏽‍👦🏽 Family History Workshops hosted by Wendy Eldridge from our Friends of the Library. Do you want some guided help with your family history journey? We can help. Join a
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    $20 – $25
  • Rare Book Week: E.W. Cole and his Book Arcade

    State Library of Victoria Entry 3, Village Roadshow Theatre, La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Presented by Jodi Kok A look at the life and exploits of E.W. Cole, creator of Cole’s Funny Picture Book and owner of the famous Cole’s Book Arcade. Cole was a canny businessman,
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  • Rare Book Week: North Melbourne Ghost Signs

    Victorian Archives Centre 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Cultural archaeology in Haunted Hotham Speaker: Sean Reynolds You’ve likely stumbled upon them, roaming the winding streets of North Melbourne—ghost signs, those timeworn remnants of advertisements past, keepers of tales hidden
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