State Library and Archives of Tasmania

State Library and Archives of Tasmania Connect with Tasmania's stories, identity and history.

This week our thoughts are with everyone affected by the industrial fire at the Tungatinah Power Station.Commissioned in...
03/09/2026

This week our thoughts are with everyone affected by the industrial fire at the Tungatinah Power Station.

Commissioned in 1956, this site became a significant part of our industrial heritage and Tasmania’s hydroelectric power scheme.

As the community reflects on this morning's news, these images from our government and community archives collections offer a glimpse into the founding days of the Tungatinah Power Station.



Image 1: PH30/1/9018 – Photograph – Tungatinah Power Station c.1965
Image 2: NS6404/1/47 – Photograph – Tungatinah Power Station c. 1956-57 / photographer – Alan Edgar McMaster
Image 3: NS6404/1/48 – Photograph – Tungatinah Power Station c. 1956-57 / photographer – Alan Edgar McMaster
Image 4: NS6843/1/34 - George Parkes at Tungatinah Power station, interior view c. 1950s / photographer – Ralph Hope-Johnstone
Image 5: AA193/1/685 – Photograph – Tungatinah Power Development c.1952
Image 6: AB713/1/129 – Photograph – Tungatinah Power Station – soleplate c. April 1953

Artist Highlight, All the fires come alive: Sisters AkousmaticaSisters Akousmatica is the collaborative, expanded radio ...
03/09/2026

Artist Highlight, All the fires come alive: Sisters Akousmatica

Sisters Akousmatica is the collaborative, expanded radio project of Julia Drouhin and Pip Stafford.

Sister Akousmatica created a new installation titled In/between, that took residence in the Allport ‘music room’. In/between brings together homemade divination cards, model ships, knuckle duster antenna encrusted with wisdom teeth, potions, minerals, radios and more in an installation that is part laboratory, part shrine.

During our Love, Health, Acres, Wealth market for Dark M**o 2026, visitors rolled dice and received two unique gifts in return: a personalised divination card created by Pip from collaged materials, and an improvised Cristal Baschet composition performed by Julia.

On the winter solstice Sisters Akousmatica boarded their community radio vessel, the Sea Hag, for a special broadcast with Jack Mitchell, co-editor of Aqua Nullius. The broadcast carried All the fires out across the water and into the airwaves.

Image 1: Sea Hag, 2026 image by Theia Connell
Images 2-5: Stills from In/Between, 2026 image by Rosie Hastie

The 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 exhibition now features a beautiful new animation inspired by the book that first brought these ...
28/08/2026

The 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 exhibition now features a beautiful new animation inspired by the book that first brought these stories to life.

As stories of culture, connection and continuity unfold, experience 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 in a new way through this moving adaptation, created from the pages of the book and brought to life through story, memory and art.

Catch the free 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 exhibition showing at State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Level 2, 91 Murray Street, Nipaluna/Hobart.

You can now join the exhibition team for a free guided tour of 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺.

The tour explores the inspiration behind the project, its key themes, and the stories it shares through the book, animation and exhibition.

Reservations required: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/here-on-sea-country-4861436

📅 Wednesday 2 September 2026
🕕 11:00 am
📍State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Level 2, 91 Murray St, Nipaluna/Hobart

Images: Exhibition launch by Jillian Mundy
Animation produced by Cameron Jones Visuals.

Artist highlight: Ursula WoodsIrish-born, Lutruwita-based artist and cinematographer Ursula Woods approaches filmmaking ...
27/08/2026

Artist highlight: Ursula Woods

Irish-born, Lutruwita-based artist and cinematographer Ursula Woods approaches filmmaking as a form of alchemy. Every frame is shaped by an interplay of light, energy, chemicals, time and chance.

Commissioned by State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Woods' new video work 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 brings footage from the collections into conversation with original film.

𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 follows Sarah and her horse Juno on a journey through Lutruwita/Tasmania to honour the memory of Sarah's mother. Guided towards the sea, they seek Tír na n-Óg, the land of eternal youth in ancient Irish mythology. Legend says that everyone lives forever there, but it can only be reached by entering the sea on horseback.

We fly through clouds. Foals take their first steps. 'Skeletons' on horseback emerge from a dark forest, in a particularly unexplainable piece of footage from the archive. Sarah emerges from the forest too, guided by the moon. Old scenes fold into new.

More spell than story, 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 brings together myth and memory through the alchemy of film.

Image 1:
Video excerpt of 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 2026
Courtesy of the artist
Nearing_snippet.mp4

Images 2-4: Stills from 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 2026
Nearing_still1.jpg
Nearing_still3.jpg
Nearing_still4.jpg

Image 5: Installation view by Rosie Hastie
All the Fires Come Alive-185.jpg

Young readers have been celebrating the joys of storytelling for a very long time. Photographer William Fellowes capture...
26/08/2026

Young readers have been celebrating the joys of storytelling for a very long time.

Photographer William Fellowes captured Campbell Street Practising School posing for Book Week in 1926.

Campbell Street Practising School opened 100 years ago in 1926. These photographs show children celebrating the presentation of 1,300 books to the school library from parents and friends.

The Children's Book Council of Australia established Children's Book Week in 1945, so this was a few years before its time.

Can you identify anyone in these photos? Send us a message.

Image 1: NS1418/1/64 https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/NS1418-1-64/NS1418-1-64
Image 2: NS1418/1/65 https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/NS1418-1-65/NS1418-1-65

Campbell Street Primary School

Artist highlight: Aunty Verna NicholsAunty Verna is a Tasmanian Aboriginal artist and Elder whose practice is grounded i...
21/08/2026

Artist highlight: Aunty Verna Nichols

Aunty Verna is a Tasmanian Aboriginal artist and Elder whose practice is grounded in a lifelong connection to Sea Country.

The exhibition showing now at the State Library and Archives of Tasmania, 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺, was guided by Aboriginal knowledge holders and Elders including Aunty Verna Nichols, ensuring cultural authority and respect for protocols.

At the heart of her work is the passing on of cultural knowledge, carried through generations like the tides.

Through teaching, storytelling and shared experience, her art reflects the strength and continuity of culture and the enduring relationship between people and Sea Country.

The works featured in this exhibition are drawn from the pages of 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺, bringing the book's stories, memories and connections to life in a new way.

Together, they invite audiences to experience the richness of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture and the deep relationships that bind people to Sea Country.

Here on Sea Country is a free exhibition now showing at the State Library and Archives of Tasmania, Level 2, 91 Murray Street, Nipaluna/Hobart.

Learn more about the 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 exhibition here: libraries.tas.gov.au/here-on-sea-country

Image: Aunty Verna Nichols by Jillian Mundy

Have you ever wondered what the carvings on the Ross Bridge mean?The bridge, which was completed in 1836, has 186 differ...
20/08/2026

Have you ever wondered what the carvings on the Ross Bridge mean?

The bridge, which was completed in 1836, has 186 different carved elements.

This evening, Jennie Jackson, a descendant of one of the bridge’s original quarrymen, is giving a free talk for National Family History Month.

The event is free, but bookings are required: https://bit.ly/4xkKQIT

📅 Thursday 20 August 2026 (tonight)
🕕 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
📍Ground floor, State Library and Archives of Tasmania, 91 Murray St, Nipaluna/Hobart

Have you thought about tracing your family’s history?It is National Family History Month and we are hosting a series of ...
20/08/2026

Have you thought about tracing your family’s history?

It is National Family History Month and we are hosting a series of talks and workshops, including one which will set you off on the right path.

In these sessions, librarian Chloe House will explain the different collections and teach you exactly what you can research using the library and archives.

You will walk away with transferrable skills to conduct a broad range of research, and lots of special hints and tips to start you on your research journey.

These events are free, but bookings are required: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/21342208964

📅 Monday 24 August 2026
🕑 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
and
📅 Friday 28 August 2026
🕙 10:00 am – 11:00 am

📍 Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, State Library and Archives of Tasmania, 91 Murray St, Nipaluna/Hobart

Image: Unknown family from the Henry Lewis collection LPIC22-1-40

Beer, jam and stowaways for lunch!Join the National Archives of Australia team at lunchtime today as they explore Tasman...
18/08/2026

Beer, jam and stowaways for lunch!

Join the National Archives of Australia team at lunchtime today as they explore Tasmania’s customs records for National Family History Month.

This event is free, but bookings are required: https://bit.ly/4xtBU3N

📅 Wednesday 19 August 2026
🕕 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
📍Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts, State Library and Archives of Tasmania, 91 Murray St, Nipaluna/Hobart

Image: Supplied, NAA: A6180, 27/3/87/44

Who’s your mob?State Library and Archives of Tasmania has a range of resources to assist you with your Aboriginal and To...
18/08/2026

Who’s your mob?

State Library and Archives of Tasmania has a range of resources to assist you with your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history research.

Some of these records include births, deaths and marriages records, military service records, information about Missions, and the Stolen Generations.

This session offers a starting point for those wanting to begin researching Aboriginal family history as well as an explanation of the tools and resources available to everyone at the State Library and Archives of Tasmania.

These sessions are free, but bookings are required: https://bit.ly/4dzJfHQ

📅 Wednesday August 26 2026
🕚 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
📍Morris Miller Room, Level Three, State Library and Archives of Tasmania, 91 Murray St, Nipaluna/Hobart

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91 Murray Street
Hobart, TAS
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