State Library Victoria > La Trobe Journal

No 32 December 1983

91

Notes

Sun Pictures of Victoria

In May of this year Lady Murray, wife of the Governor of Victoria, launched the book Sun pictures of Victoria, published by Currey O'Neil Ross Pty. Ltd. for the Library Council of Victoria.
The book comprises photographs of Melbourne and Victoria taken in the years 1857–1859 by two pioneering photographers, the Frenchman Antoine Fauchery and Richard Daintree, an English geologist. The accompanying text is provided by Dianne Reilly, the La Trobe Librarian (who is ‘presently undertaking further studies of Fauchery's life and work), and Jennifer Carew, a member of the State Library's staff who has a particular interest in the history of photography and in the work of Richard Daintree.
The authors note in their introduction that “This was probably the first photographic series of Australian scenes to be presented for sale to the public”. The original album on which this book is based in held in the La Trobe Library.

Publication of nineteenth-century directories

In 1981 the Library Council of Victoria published a microfiche edition of the six volumes of Bailliere's Official Post Office directory of Victoria which had appeared between 1868 and 1880/81. These directories contain the names, addresses and occupations of inhabitants of Victoria, arranged both alphabetically and by place. Among other features of the series, the 1871/72 volumes also includes a gazetteer of Victoria.
The Library Council has now published, in the same format, the seven volumes of H. Wise & Co.'s Victorian post office directory which span the period from 1884/5 to 1899/1900. The Wise directories are available for $85, including postage; complete sets of the Bailliere and Wise directories can be purchased for a special price of $120, including postage.
The fiche are available for inspection at the La Trobe Library. Further information can be obtained from Patsy Hardy, Publications Officer, State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne.