NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF AUSTRALIA

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF AUSTRALIA

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The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for “maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the Australian people.

Don’t miss seeing the Treasures Gallery and discover remarkable treasures from Australian history.
“From maps and rare books to manuscripts, photographs, oil paintings and watercolours, this is where you will find many of the Library’s most unexpected and unique items.”
Open daily 10am to 5pm. Free entry.
www.nla.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/treasures-gallery

SEE MORE INFORMATION BELOW

The National Library of Australia
Parkes Place Canberra ACT 2600
Ph 02 6262 1111
www.nla.gov.au

Open Monday to Thursday 10 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday* 10 am to 5 pm. Sunday 1.30 pm to 5 pm

TREASURES GALLERY
NATIONAL LIBRARY CANBERRA

The Treasures Gallery at the National Library is always a “must-do” on our itinerary for when we visit Canberra.
Why? Because the Treasures Gallery is always changing and always interesting and there is usually a surprise or two.

Included in the collection are some truly amazing objects and documents including James Cook’s “Endeavour” journal, Edward (Eddy) Marbo’s diaries and maps, a letter by Jane Austin and a 12th-century Buddhist scripture.

The National Library has a vast collection of over 10 million items and these are drawn upon to create the exhibitions in the Treasures Gallery.

Here are some highlights:

1650 DUTCH MAPS SHOWING AUSTRALIA
See the first edition of this important historical atlas that for the first time shows the coast line of Western Australia.

CAPTAIN COOK’S JOURNAL
Handwritten by Cook this journal documents his experiences on the voyage of HMB Endeavour 1768 to 1771 which was his of three epic voyages of exploration.

AUSTRALIA’S EARLIEST EXISTING PRINTED DOCUMENT
This honour goes to a 1796 handbill advertising the program at a Sydney theatre.

RARE BOOK OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS
Published in 1808 John Lewin’s illustrated book is one of six known surviving copies.

ARCHITECT’S MODEL FOR THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
In 1961 Jorn Utzon completed a model of the Opera House sails to explore the geometry and feasibility of his famous design.

PATRICK WHITE’S MISSING MANUSCRIPTS
Patrick White is the only Nobel Prize winner for literature and he asserted that he would have had all of his unfinished works destroyed upon his death. However after his death the Library received a collection of his effects and they included amongst many other objects, ten notebooks and three unpublished manuscripts.

HENRY LAWSON’S PERSONAL ITEMS
Intriguing items from the life of poet Henry Lawson, including his fobwatch and two of his pens.

PRIME MINISTER END OF WORLD WAR 2 SPEECH
Ben Chifley’s hand-annotated speech announcing the end of the Second World War in 1945

MINIATURE BOOK COLLECTION
An adorable collection of miniature books, including tiny editions of Beatrix Potter’s children’s tales.

These and millions of others in the Libraries collection give us insight into other times and help us to understand how life was in times past. Don’t miss seeing the Treasures Gallery.

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CANBERRA AND REGION VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
Regatta Point, Barrine Drive, Parkes ACT 2600
Ph 1300 554 114
Email crvc@act.gov.au
visitcanberra.com.au/traveller-information/visitor-information-centre
visitcanberra.com.au/
Open 9am-5pm weekdays
Open 9am-4pm weekends and public holidays
Closed Christmas Day
Limited one-hour free parking, with designated free all-day parking available to park caravans, camper trailers, coaches and RVs. Free Wi-Fi is also available.
“Co-located with the National Capital Exhibition at Regatta Point, the Visitor Information Centre also offers bike and e-scooter hire. Be sure to explore the shop full of local produce, handcrafted gifts, hampers and popular souvenirs.“