Australia is known for trailblazers like Burke and Wills, who crossed Australia from bottom to top. Or for the many people for whom rooms are named at the State Library Victoria, like Charles La Trobe, or Ian Potter. One name that may not come to mind, but absolutely should, is Alice Anderson. A business-savvy pioneer for women in Victoria, Alice turned a touring car into Australia's first garage run by and for women.

In this episode, we're joined by Sarah Matthews, one of the Librarians at State Library Victoria, and an Alice Anderson expert. Sarah wrote an amazing article on Alice for the State Library website, so in this episode, she'll share the incredible story of Miss Anderson and her motor service.

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Melbourne is an ever-changing city, constantly growing and innovating. This is typically for the best until people are left behind, displaced or marginalised and invisible to society. But they weren't invisible to Alan K Jordan, a social worker and photographer, who used his camera as a tool to document the lives and struggles of those experiencing poverty and homelessness.

In this episode, we're joined by Susan Long, one of the Librarians at State Library Victoria. Susan has a passion for art and the social impact of photography, so she's particularly drawn to Alan's work. She'll share who Alan was, and how he used his camera to reveal the hidden history of Melbourne.

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She was a flame-haired artist with a fox companion, known for her colourful and intricate art, and her passion for dance. Vali Myers, the Australian artist who defied convention and caught the attention of famous figures across the art world, was nothing short of a trailblazer.

In this episode, we're joined by Fiona Jeffery, one of the librarians at State Library Victoria, who wrote a fascinating blog about Vali Myers on the Library website. Fiona shares the captivating story of Vali, from her childhood in Australia, all through her life as an artist, muse, and free spirit.

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Everyone has heard of Willy Wonka, the magical owner of the incredible Wonka Chocolate Factory. But few know very much about Melbourne's own Willy Wonka, who ran a bookstore even more magical than the books it sold. E.W. Cole's Marvellous Book Arcade lived on the south side of Bourke Street, which sprawled over three stories of eccentric departments, and boasted over a million books.

In this episode, you'll hear from State Library Victoria Librarian, Jodi Kok, who decided to investigate E.W. Cole and even wrote an article about him on the State Library website. She’ll share everything about this magical place, and the even more magical man behind it.

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When you walk around the streets of Melbourne, it's impossible not to imagine the past. Seeing the wonderfully preserved facades of Collins Street, it’s easy to envision yourself back in the 1930s. But what was life really like back then?

In this episode, we're joined by Kylie Best, a librarian at State Library Victoria. Kylie wrote about 1930s Melbourne based on a series of seven mysterious portraits by photographer Eric Rowell for the Library’s blog. After some digging, Kylie uncovered the incredible stories of some of these colourful characters.

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