Ohhhh, it’s a hot one today. Melbourne hit 42C. Luckily I didn’t have to travel far to get to the State Library of Victoria for this event. I used to come here to study when I was at school. The dome room used to be dark and lit only by green desk lamps. Now that the roof windows have been fixed, it’s beautiful and light. It is Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free libraries in the world. It is also Australia's busiest public library and, as of 2023, the third busiest library globally.
Amongst the library’s collection are items related to infamous Victorian bushranger Ned Kelly, notably his iconic armour and the original Jerilderie Letter, a 56-page document of approximately 8,000 words. In it, Kelly aims to justify his actions, including the murder of three policemen in October 1878 at Stringybark Creek. He describes cases of alleged police corruption and calls for justice for poor rural families. The myth surrounding Kelly pervades Australian culture, and he is one of Australia's most recognised national symbols. 📚