National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries
A landmark exhibition that tells a rich and remarkable story about our history, our nation, our treasures … and our libraries.
National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries brings together, for the first time, more than 170 extraordinary items that have shaped our nation. Drawn from the magnificent collections of Australia’s National, State and Territory libraries, the exhibition contains manuscripts, maps, drawings, paintings and objects—from the everyday to the exotic—all linked to Australia.
National Treasures from Australia’s Great Libraries includes familiar icons such as James Cook’s Endeavour journal, Ned Kelly’s helmet and Donald Bradman’s favourite bat. Others may be less well known, such as the heartbreaking story of Mary Watson, who perished with her baby off a deserted Queensland island, or the diary of Shane Gould, written as a teenager during her record-breaking swims at the tragic Munich Olympics.
The exhibition spans 400 years of Australia’s history, beginning with the earliest European depiction of the Southern Cross drawn in the 16th century, through our convict and colonial era, two world wars, recent innovations and our constant obsessions with sport, food and wine. It gives a fresh insight into the diversity and breadth of our history and what it means to be Australian today.
The National Treasures exhibition opens on 3 December 2005 at the National Library of Australia, where it will be on display for 10 weeks. In March 2006 it will begin its journey throughout the six states ending in the Northern Territory in August 2007. It will stay for eight weeks at each of these venues. Accompanying the exhibition is a magnificent catalogue and comprehensive website, to provide valuable additional information.



