Digitisation Update October 2024

The Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) was a friendly society, which had its origins in Manchester, England. It was established in Melbourne in 1840 by a member who migrated to Australia and formed the first lodge. 

We have digitised approximately 1,000 photographs relating to the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. The collection includes photographs of members and officials from lodges across Melbourne and Regional Victoria, as well as formal and social occasions and buildings.

Explore the collection online. 

Cambodian-born artist, Bun Heang recorded his experiences of the Khmer Rouge between 1975-1979 in a series of 90 illustrations.

The collection was originally digitised in 2012 but has been redone to provide users with a high-resolution alternative after being requested for use in an exhibition. 

The collection includes approximately 400 architectural drawings produced by the ANU Design Unit, including drawings of furniture and industrial pieces designed for the ANU Acton Campus between the 1950s and 1970s. 

Many of the drawings are by notable designers Fred Ward, Derek Wrigley, and Hans Pillig.

Over 1,000 photographs relating to the operations of Burns Philp, which formed in 1876 and had interests in shipping, agriculture, insurance, manufacturing and retail in Australia and the Asia Pacific. These photographs provide insight into the operations of one of Australia’s longest-running companies and the history of agriculture and shipping in Australia.

Photographs relating to the Australian Mercantile Land and Finance Company, which formed in 1863 and operated as wool brokers, pastoral financiers, and stock and property agents in New south Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. Included in this collection are photographs of staff, buildings, livestock, and business and social activities. These photographs date from c.1920s to 1970s and highlight the activities of one of Australia’s most significant agricultural companies, which went on to become part of Elders.

A series of more than 500 audio cassette recordings of Canberra School of Art annual lectures and presentations for the School’s ‘Art Forum’ seminar series between 1983 and 2005. These include talks by significant artists and art historians from Australia and overseas including William Yang, Pierre Ryckmans, Aboriginal film maker Tracy Moffatt and various HC Coombs Creative Arts Fellows.

The Friendly Society of Victorian Natives were a mutual society formed in Melbourne in 1871. The Society changed its name to the Australian Natives Association (ANA) in 1872 following a vote to include white men born in the other Australian colonies. Friendly societies were like an early form of insurance and the Association's objectives were to "raise funds by subscription and donations for the purpose of relieving sick members, and defraying funeral expenses of members and their wives, relieving distressed widows and orphans and also for the necessary expenses of the general management of the Society”. The society had courts or branches across Victoria which provided sickness, unemployment, and funeral benefits to its members, as well as social activities. The collection includes almost 800 photographs, dating from the 1870s to 1980s and highlight the activities of one of Australia’s longest-running friendly societies.