Manuscripts
Manuscripts document the lives and activities of people and organisations, and are an important and much valued part of our collection. Manuscripts take many different forms and can include letters, diaries, book drafts, drawings, logbooks, and maps.
The collection’s greatest strength is the period from the Federation movement at the end of the nineteenth century continuing up to the present. However it also includes much material related to the Asia–Pacific region and the European discovery, exploration and settlement of Australia.
Highlights
- Captain James Cook's Endeavour Journal - View the journal of Cook's first voyage to Australia
- William Bligh’s notebook - View the notebook Bligh kept after the mutiny of the Bounty
- Papers of Sir Edmund Barton - View the papers of Australia’s first prime minister
- Papers of Manning and Dymphna Clark - Read more about Manning the renowned Australian historian
- Finding aid for the Papers of Sir John Monash - Explore the collection of Australia's military commander in the First World War.
- Papers of Mem Fox - children's author
- Papers of Miriam Hyde - composer, musician and poet
