Discover Australia through the words of Captain James Cook in the Journal of the H.M.S. Endeavour, get to know Australia's first prime minister, Sir Edmund Barton, through his papers, or find out how Australia's most iconic song 'Waltzing Matilda' came into being.
Explore over 8800 items online by viewing the selection showcased below or browse all digitised items from the Manuscript Collection in our catalogue. To review our progress read Manuscripts digitisation - progress so far and Digitisation - overview.
Observations on the Southern Cross constellation c.1523 Letter of Andrea Corsali
One peso note, New Australia Colony Paraguay c.1905
The Astrologer c.1935 Algeranoff Papers
Sheet music cover c.1910 Earp Papers
Diary extract Antarctic Expedition 1929 Hurley Papers
Cabinet voting decision c.1902 Barton Papers
Some hints on the inuring of tender plants c.1805 Banks Papers
Cloth samples from Cook's Pacific voyages c.1768 Rex Nan Kivell Collection
Frank Anstey c.1919 Letters of Frank Anstey
Miles Franklin on deck chair c1931
Letter from Christina Macpherson to Dr Wood regarding the origins of 'Waltzing Matilda'
Art studio at German Concentration Camp NSW 1914-1919 Ferguson collection WWI
Australian Natives' Association Art Union poster 1896
Ballerina adjusting her shoe Papers of Margaret Walker, ca. 1938
Lady Barton as an elderly woman Papers of Edmund Barton
Elisabeth Souvorova in Maroussia Richardson Collection 1936 or 1937
10th Assembly League of Nations Geneva 1929
William Bligh Notebook and list of mutineers 1789
Ellis Rowan, 1848-1922 Ellis Rowan won the Centennial Art Prize in 1888, defeating
established male artists including Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin. Rowan travelled Australia and New Guinea searching for rare and exotic species to paint. This image is from her flower and bird paintings held in the Pictures Collection of the National Library. It recently featured in Betty Churcher's Hidden Treasures series, screened on ABC Television.