Pictures and photographs

About 600 books and 66 serials mainly relating to entomology and the natural sciences. The strength is works on British entomology but also includes Europe, North and South America. About one-third were published in the 18th and 19th centuries

Collection guide

Wilson Collection

Drawings, sketches, plans and photographs of Australian colonial architecture, pencil drawings of ancient buildings from China and Greece, drawings and sketches for a proposed "ideal city" of Kurrajong, drawings and sketches of furniture designs, personal papers.

Collection guide

George Raper, King parrot (Alisterus scapularis), 1788, nla.obj-150068793

Rights and the Pictures Collection

A summary of copyright and rights in the Pictures Collection.

Information article

Leigh Henningham, Protester holding a placard that reads, Our Future is in Your Hands, during the School Strike 4 Climate rally, Melbourne, 21 May 2021, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2956718607

Protest and dissent research guide

Use this guide to help find and access resources about the movements that have shaped social and cultural change in Australia.

Research guide

An old photograph of people in sensible clothing going for a walk in the bush.

Photographs of the anti-fashion Rational Dress Movement

The Library has recently acquired 3 photographs from a Rational Dress Movement picnic in 1895.

News article

Two woman in green and gold clothing embracing excitedly in front of a crowd.

Leigh Henningham, Matildas fans reacting to an Australian goal at a public screening of the Australia vs Canada 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup match at Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria, 31 July, nla.obj-3254738517

Photographs of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

The Library commissioned photographers to capture the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

News article

Five girls playing a rugby game on a rugby pitch

Photographs of the 2022 Pacifica Youth Rugby Cup

Four photographs of the 2022 Pacifica Youth Rugby Cup have recently been added to our collection.

News article

Mabo Collection

Personal papers and legal material that record of one of the most important and controversial legal cases in Australian history and the life of the man who is chiefly associated with the case.

Collection guide

An antique world map titled 'General Chart' showing the discoveries made by Captain James Cook during his voyages.

Lieut Henry Roberts, A general chart exhibiting the discoveries made by Capt. James Cook in this and his two preceding voyages, 1789, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230604992

James Cook and his voyages

Our James Cook collection showcases the Library’s most famous item - Cook’s HMS Endeavour journal.

Collection guide

A black and white drawing depicting a very large crowed of people inside an ornate building watching a parade of people and flags entering the building.

Papers of Sir Anthony Musgrave, Microform, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn668402

Federation of Australia

A comprehensive collection of original records of the Federation movement plus books, pictures, music and other material related to Federation

Collection guide

Black and white image of factories and other industrial buildings in a valley

William A. Bayley, The industrial valley of Lithgow looking west, Lithgow, New South Wales, 1939, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-152895444

Crome Collection

Books, booklets, pamphlets, leaflets and hundreds of photographs and postcards mainly relating to New South Wales country towns.

Collection guide

A large, old text with Chinese characters is bound with traditional thread stitching, sitting on a shelf, supported by a white fabric strap wrapped around its cover. The edges of the pages are uneven, showing wear with the stitching slightly frayed. Other colourful books with Chinese characters are lined up alongside it on the shelf.

Chinese collections research guide

Get help to find and access material from the Library’s Chinese collection and beyond.

Research guide

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