Donate to bring performing arts collections online
The story of the performing arts in Australia is a spectacular one, and our collections capture it in all its grandeur.
The Library’s vision is to transform access to Australian history and culture by making the most unique parts of our national collections available to everyone, everywhere, by sharing them online.

Your support will help to put these performers back centre stage
Many of the figures represented in these collections, such as Dame Nellie Melba and Sir Robert Helpmann, are household names. But others are at risk of fading from history. Bringing their collections online will help to put them back centre stage.

Rose Quong (1879–1972)
Born in Melbourne, Rose was a public servant who performed in amateur theatre in her spare time. In 1924, Rose was awarded a scholarship to study drama in London and found a new career and a new life overseas. In 1929 and 1931, she appeared with Laurence Olivier and the Chinese-American film star Anna May Wong in the play The Circle of Chalk. Rose never returned to Australia, but some of her papers did – our holdings include her 1924 travel diary documenting her journey to begin a new life in London.
Winifred Atwell (1914–1983)
Winifred Atwell, ‘The Amazing Miss A,’ was one of the most famous musicians of her time. Born in Trinidad, she became famous in 1950s Britain playing ragtime and honky-tonk piano, after training as a musician in New York and London. After touring Australia in the 1950s and 60s, she settled here in the 1970s. She was the first woman to play at Sydney Opera House – while the building was still under construction – performing a rendition of Waltzing Matilda to the workers. Winifred Atwell’s papers document the story of a ground-breaking performer who achieved international fame.
Bobby and Gracie Le Brun
The papers of Bobby and Gracie Le Brun capture the story of Australian vaudeville. Bobby and Gracie met on the set of Sydney's Tivoli Theatre: itself a legendary venue in the history of Australian performing arts. From 1949 to 1961, they toured the east coast of Australia with Sorlie’s Travelling Vaudeville Show, travelling 24,000 kilometres a year. Their collection tells the story of popular entertainment before television was in every home.
Help us to share the story of Australian performing arts with everyone
Bringing the treasures of the National Library’s collection online helps us to share the stories with millions of readers across Australia and around the world.
By helping us to raise our goal of $250,000, you can help us to share the story of Australian performing arts with readers everywhere.
