The AX Collection is an extensive collection that forms the hub of the Australiana collections in Rare Books. The basis of this collection was formed from books held in the University of Melbourne's original library collections. It is essentially comprised of material published either in or about Australia before 1900; however, it also includes facsimile and fine art editions published after that date.
While being a rich and representative general collection, it is especially strong in the subject areas of:
- exploration
- natural history
- literature
- early narratives of colonial life.
The AX Collection is complemented by the holdings in the McLaren Collection and the Grimwade Collection , and also holds sets of:
- 19th century newspapers, including The Argus, The Australasian and The Bulletin
- Victorian Parliamentary Papers and Debates
- Sands and MacDougall Street Directories.
Access and Availability
The AX Collection is fully catalogued online. Material may be accessed through the Cultural Collections Reading Room in the Baillieu Library. Requests for material can be made online prior to visiting the reading room. To request material, please register and order here.