Velvet, Iron, Ashes
State Library Victoria
Discover surprising connections between extraordinary people, events and icons from Victoria’s history. Follow your own path of exploration on a trail of unexpected, intertwined stories.
Velvet, Iron, Ashes opens up a new way of seeing our history and reveals as never before how our stories intersect. Find out how the armour of infamous bushranger Ned Kelly is connected to cricket’s celebrated Ashes Urn, how fairy floss is connected to Victoria’s Latrobe Valley electricity industry, and why the granddaughter of one of our prime ministers once wore a glittering velvet cloak that symbolised the Murray–Darling irrigation scheme.
Showcasing treasures from the Library’s collection and from other major institutions and private collections, this captivating exhibition will inspire you to make discoveries of your own.
Spend time with our retro-style Map-o-matic – custom-made for Velvet, Iron, Ashes – to create and print your very own personalised tour map of the exhibition.
Velvet, Iron, Ashes is the inaugural exhibition in the new Victoria Gallery endowed by the John and Myriam Wylie Foundation and established as part of the Library’s transformative $88.1 million Vision 2020 redevelopment.
The Ashes Urn will be on exclusive display at the Library for a limited time from 26 November 2019 until 23 February 2020.
Velvet, Iron, Ashes is open 10am-6pm daily.
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