First I visited the Old Treasury Museum with the newly added City Museum. Until only last week the Old Treasury housed only information on the Treasury but they have now branched out to cover a brief history of Melbourne. City Museum was interesting enough. The usual old letters, deeds, clothing and trinkets from the 1800s. Some very interesting old maps and drawings. Would have enjoyed sitting with a very intent elderly man watching the hour long video on Melbourne's old cable car network but time was wasting. You can buy the DVD for $30 if you're up for it. Downstairs in the basement you're up for a multimedia feast on on "life during the 1800s" and the gold rush. Various old vaults have been converted into separate multimedia displays. One depicting a gold seller ripping off foreigners, another telling stories in-the-words-of-those-who-were-there, and another giving an idea of how much gold was pulled out of the ground at the time. There were workers setting up some rooms, it had an overall feeling of being "under construction". It was also terribly lonely. I was the only one in the basement, and only a couple of tourists (and the elderly tram nut) upstairs.
It wasn't bad, although for the size of the exhibit I felt the $8.50 entry fee was a bit steep. Maybe I just expect this stuff to be free.
Nice collection of "about Melbourne" books. A couple I'd have loved to grab but their $40 price tag scared me away.
Walked from the Old Treasury to St. Patrick's Cathedral. I'd never looked around inside before. Lovely building. I'm particularly impressed with the wood panelling in the ceiling and the massive old organ. I didn't take any photos, I felt like I'd be stepping on the toes of the worshipers.
Wandered down La Trobe Street, past QV and up Swanston to the State Library.
Every time I walk past QV I'm always struck with shock. Like, "who the hell put that there, where'd the skate park go?". I think it will take a while to get used to. I didn't go in.
I can't remember ever going into the State Library, but I know I visited it when it was the Melbourne Museum (remember "Melbourne Central" station used to be "Museum"?)
I wandered through various reading rooms. I was a little irritated that many of the more interesting rooms (Historical Pictures for example) were appointment only and required you to be buzzed in. Although it's quite obvious why. I experimented with the newspaper microfiche and CD-ROM archives but got frustrated at the slowness of the computers and gave up. I'd recommend using the online News and Fairfax newspaper/magazine archives and then going to the library with a list of articles you'd like to copy. The searching facilities of the library were substandard.
I briefly looked at the Eureka revisited: the contest of memories exhibit but mostly just wandered through to the toilet. I wasn't in the mood for death.
Chanced upon the Cowen Gallery and it's "unique display of works from the Pictures Collection, from portraits of historical figures to Victorian landscapes and city scenes". The landscapes were quite cool.
I almost left without going up into "the dome" (echo echo echo) until I noticed the well labeled but tucked away elevator that gave you access.
Upstairs was the real reason I'd finally bothered to visit the State Library, the "changing face of Victoria" exhibit.
It was almost identical in feel to the City Museum Melbourne exhib, only free.
This permanent exhibition highlights the people, places and events that have shaped life in Victoria over 200 years. Exhibits include Library treasures such as the Batman Deeds and Ned Kelly’s armour, as well as fascinating objects, photographs, documents and maps.
The multimedia in this exhib was excellent. A nice video explained how all the dents got in Ned's armour. My favourite by far was a console you could sit at that displayed various panoramas of Melbourne from drawings of the first settlement right up to 2004. It was brilliant (if a little slow to load).
I'd only say that the "views from the dome" level (Level 6) was a little disappointing. Sure, you get a lovely view of the 3rd level dome reading room, but the windows to the outside are opaque. I'm sure the view sucks anyway.
From there I walked over to ("The New") Melbourne Central. Have you noticed the crazy wood panelling on the State Library side? Wandered around checking out where I used to have lunch, walked through some of the rabbit warren. Bought a Boost juice. Joined the commute home.