UON Archives & Special Collections

“Over the past 25 years the problem hasn’t been the supply of homes. It’s been the supply of homes for people who want to own and live in them,” writes Richard Dennis, co-CEO of The Australia Institute. Read the full piece on The Point: theaus.in/4rtpo0T

Happy #FathersDay! Today we celebrate all the dads, grandfathers, and father figures who make a difference in our lives. 📸 Wheelbarrow games, Allan Family Collection, [C4505-99] bit.ly/4mp4YnT

#IndigenousLiteracyDay. We’re proud to share Goori-Bugg Dreaming by Dr John Heath, Birrpai Goori. A story of survival, resistance & resilience, it chronicles Birrpai & Worimi history across 7 generations. Find it at Auchmuty Library, Parray Yayirri (Call no: 305.8991509 HEAT-1).

A rare 1935 Ulysses by James Joyce has just joined our shelves. 📖 First illustrated edition 🎨 26 artworks by Henri Matisse ✍️ One of only 1,500 copies signed by Matisse 🇦🇺 One of just three copies in Australia

Excited to announce a new project by Dr Marie-Laure Vuaille-Barcan & RA Hélène Mills 🎉 Copley scholars working with Special Collections to explore French connections in Newcastle & the Hunter, including the history of Alliance Française. Read on ➡️ bit.ly/47EOQtU

#ChildrenBookWeek! Explore original #illustrations from Margaret Senior’s Bush Haven Animals! Her artworks show meticulous process marks and blend scientific accuracy with storytelling. Explore these treasures on Living Histories! bit.ly/474uDh3

#ScienceWeek wrapped up last week, but discoveries continue! Celebrate 60 years of #UniNewcastle innovation & explore amazing science moments in our archives: check out our #LivingHistories ‘National Science Week 2025’ page 👉 bit.ly/41ixW0t #STEM

Explore the History of Health in #Newcastle! A new exhibition, 'Say Aahhhh: Health, Medicine and Everyday Care in Newcastle from 1945 to 2000', is now open at the Auchmuty Library's Special Collections! Read on ➡️ bit.ly/4m7weYb #UniNewcastle #NewcastleHistory

Today marks 80 years since #VPDay — the end of WWII. From our archives: rare colour footage of Newcastle’s 1945 celebrations, now with a recreated soundscape by Joshua Webb (2020). Reconstructed footage ➡️ bit.ly/46N1iHO Entire footage ➡️ bit.ly/4osO7lx

Throwback to the #electric age! 💡 UON Special Collections holds the ELMA archives (1925–2002) ➡️ bit.ly/45mqYbQ Check out this groovy trailer by student Jesse McKay featuring Governor-General Lord Casey’s 1960s visit to the ELMA factory #NewcastleHistory

Calling all Musical Futurists, Rhythmic Provocateurs & Sonic Alchemists! #Newcastle Youth Orchestra Explores New Musical Horizons ➡️ hunterlivinghistories.com/2025/08/07/new…

🎉 60 Years of Autonomy Day 🎉 Since 1965, #UON students have marked independence with flour fights, protests & fundraising. 📸 Relive the antics in historic photos ➡️ livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/133 And watch this 1970 student interview 🎥 bit.ly/40Vbc6m

Remembering Ralph Snowball (1849–1925), prolific photographer of Newcastle life. Today marks 100 yrs since his passing. Explore newly digitised images from his glass plate negatives in our collection: livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/379…

Join us Monday, 1.00pm-2.30pm for the Hunter Living Histories showcase. Presentations by Uncle Warren Taggart and Carol Carter “Spirit of Place: Aboriginal Sites of the Hunter Region”; and updates on the Victoria Theatre and Newcastle Post Office ➡️ bit.ly/4l2oe9j

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” — R. W. Emerson Today, on #InternationalDayOfFriendship, we’re sharing a 1944 edition of Emerson’s Friendship. Want to see it in person? Book a visit to our Reading Room: bit.ly/4ogBLgy

🩺 Join us for the launch of Say Aahhhh: Health, Medicine & Everyday Care in Newcastle (1945–2000) — an exhibition exploring local stories of care, innovation & resilience. 🗓️ Fri 18 July, 11:30am 📍 Auchmuty Library, UoN Callaghan 🎙️ Guest speakers included!

🌆 #Newcastle NSW, c.1960s Captured on 35mm slides from the Merv & Janet Copley Collection, held in Special Collections. 📷 Explore more via Living Histories: bit.ly/39tEvFj #NewcastleHistory #HunterLivingHistories

🎬 As part of #UniNewcastle60Years, student Alex Hunter reviewed NBN archive footage to identify 1960s–70s uni moments—helping create a documentary series spanning each decade. 📽️ Read more: hunterlivinghistories.com/2025/07/07/uon… #GLAMxLab #HunterLivingHistories #NewcastleNSW

This #NAIDOCWeek we reflect on a powerful alliance in 1820s Newcastle. Biraban, a bilingual Aboriginal leader, and Rev. Threlkeld worked to preserve language & culture—and fought legal injustice together. 🎥 Watch the film: bit.ly/44L3yga #StoriesOfOurTown

🦏 Dürer’s famous rhino—imagined, inaccurate, and iconic. Created in 1515, it shaped how Europe saw the rhinoceros for centuries. See a large-scale print reproduction in the Physica Curiosa Exhibition, closing 5pm tomorrow!