The Chapters

Australia is known for trailblazers like Burke and Wills, who crossed Australia from bottom to top. Or for the many people for whom rooms are named at the State Library Victoria, like Charles La Trobe, or Ian Potter. One name that may not come to mind, but absolutely should, is Alice Anderson. A business-savvy pioneer for women in Victoria, Alice turned a touring car into Australia

Melbourne is an ever-changing city, constantly growing and innovating. This is typically for the best until people are left behind, displaced or marginalised and invisible to society. But they weren't invisible to Alan K Jordan, a social worker and photographer, who used his camera as a tool to document the lives and struggles of those experiencing poverty and homelessness. In this

As surprising as it may seem, it was only in 1908 that women were given the right to vote in Victoria. Before that, women had no say in how their state was run and they couldn't stand for office, so they fought for decades to change that. But not everyone waited for the law to change — Fanny Finch, an immigrant from London making ends meet despite her deadbeat husband, took matte

She was a flame-haired artist with a fox companion, known for her colourful and intricate art, and her passion for dance. Vali Myers, the Australian artist who defied convention and caught the attention of famous figures across the art world, was nothing short of a trailblazer. In this episode, we're joined by Fiona Jeffery, one of the librarians at State Library Victoria, who wrot

Everyone has heard of Willy Wonka, the magical owner of the incredible Wonka Chocolate Factory. But few know very much about Melbourne's own Willy Wonka, who ran a bookstore even more magical than the books it sold. E.W. Cole's Marvellous Book Arcade lived on the south side of Bourke Street, which sprawled over three stories of eccentric departments, and boasted over a million book

When you walk around the streets of Melbourne, it's impossible not to imagine the past. Seeing the wonderfully preserved facades of Collins Street, it’s easy to envision yourself back in the 1930s. But what was life really like back then? In this episode, we're joined by Kylie Best, a librarian at State Library Victoria. Kylie wrote about 1930s Melbourne based on a series of seve