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The Australiana Research RoomLocated within the Ballarat branch library, the Australiana Research Room holds the majority of local history and family history resources of the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation, with a focus on Ballarat and vicinity. The Australiana Research Room has the same opening hours as Ballarat Library. There are many resources useful to researchers, historians, scholars, for the idly curious and
BooksUse our catalogue to search titles available in AR. The AR collection is reference only which means the material is available for use in the Library only. The collection is founded on the collection of the old Ballarat Public Library, in Barkly Street, Ballarat East. The building still exists, now part of Ballarat Secondary College Senior Campus, but in the 1960s the collection was brought to the main library (then in Camp St) where it was recognised by Austin McCallum, the then Regional Librarian, as having great historic significance. The Library continues to build on this core collection of Australiana, now holding a broad collection of titles with reference to Australia. JournalsAlthough AR no longer actively collects journals we still hold a number of volumes of historic interest. We also hold Newsletters from local history groups, which are a great source of information. Newspapers There are some newspaper volumes still in hard copy, but the main collection of newspapers is on microfilm. We collect local newspapers, not Melbourne or other centres. See the Local History page for newspapers held in other branch libraries. PhotographsAR has a large collection of photographs, which we are adding to the catalogue, and are available for viewing on the website. Search the catalogue with "photographs" and your search word for example "streets", or if you wish to look at them all, enter "Ballarat" and "photographs" Maps Many of the maps in AR are historic and can be fragile, and their use is at the librarian's discretion. Manuscripts Diaries, letters etc. are historic and can have significant preservation issues. CHRLC is actively pursuing a digitisation program for these materials, but access is likely to be limited or at the librarian's discretion. You may also be requested to study these materials under supervision. Papers and recordsIncludes archival material from various community groups held at the library for safekeeping/posterity. See Special Collections. Oral histories200+ cassettes of recordings made in the early ‘80s, as well as copies of transcripts and index. The cassettes are no longer played because of preservation issues, however the transcripts are available. If you are from Ararat, you are in luck, as the cassettes have been digitised and are available in the Ararat Library on CD Rom. Rare booksMany volumes in AR have come as gifts through several benefactors. See Special Collections StaffAR staff have many years experience as librarians and share a passion for the history and heritage of Ballarat. Blessed with good memories as well as access to knowledge databases built up over the years, there isn't too much that can get past us!
If you really want to read it, here is a copy of our collection policy  ANZAC DayEvery year Amanda Taylor arranges a display commemorating ANZAC day, April 25th, 1915, when Australian and New Zealand forces landed at Gallipoli. This year she has excelled with a small diorama of "no man's land" together with ghostly images of some of our ANZACs. The display will remain until the Heritage Weekend, 10/11 May.
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Featured Book
 All the colours of darkness by Peter Robinson Featured DVD
 Kite runner Featured Junior Book
 Waiting for mama by Tae-jun Yi |
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Postcards on sale at Ballarat Library celebrate Ballarat's heritage
The images on the notecards have all been taken from a book entitle Jubilee Sketch of Ballarat 1887 by William Little. This book, written by a one-time Mayor of Ballarat, in astonishingly flowery language, is illustrated with original photographs by Chuck. William Little was an interesting man, who worked constantly to promote Ballarat. He was very cultured, having a large art collection (he lent about a third of the collection exhibited when the first Art Gallery opened in Ballarat) and also being intensely interested in music. Instead of the usual Mayoral Ball (Mayor Little has conscientious scruples against such a form of amusement) he arranged for the Victorian Orchestra to give a high-class concert at the Albert Hall, greatly to the enjoyment and edification of the large audience in attendance. These scenes of Ballarat and Ballarat East in the 1880s illustrate a very prosperous and dynamic city. A photograph of Mr Little in his mayoral robes.