Our rich and varied Pictures collection focuses on Australian people, places and events, from early European exploration of the South Pacific to contemporary events.

Watercolour painting of Banksia bush and flowers

Banksia serrata

Part of Ellis Rowan Flower and bird paintings collection
Tasmanian cliffs and vegetation

Morning mist, Rock Island Bend, Franklin River, Tasmania, 1979

Part of collection: Dombrovskis collection of Tasmanian wilderness photographs, 1978-1995.
Black and white photo of train at Campbelltown Station

Engine 2007 on "Pilgrim" train at Campbelltown Station, 1937

Part of Collection: Buckland collection of railway transport photographs.
Watercolour drawing of a parrot

King parrot (Alisterus scapularis)

Part of the collection: The Ducie collection of First Fleet art.

The Pictures collection includes material in a wide variety of formats which document significant people, places and events in Australian history and society and to some extent, the activities of Australians overseas, especially in Antarctica and Papua New Guinea.

Comprising photographs, prints, drawings, watercolours, cartoons, miniatures, paintings, architectural plans, objects and sculpture, the collection documents the lives of past and present Australians, and the communities and landscapes they inhabit.

People seeking historical images of Australian towns and landscapes, portraits of public figures, images of colonial life, early illustrations of Australian flora and fauna, political cartoons or contemporary photographs of popular culture and current events, will find the collection invaluable.

Pictures are acquired primarily for their documentary value, although the collection contains many great works of art. Our extensive photographic collections date from the invention of photography in the mid-nineteenth century until the present, ranging from early daguerreotypes to contemporary digital images. Twentieth century Australian documentary photography is particularly well represented. 

Highlights

Explore our Pictures collection by viewing the highlights below:

The National Library of Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Nations Peoples – the First Australians – as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and gives respect to the Elders – past and present – and through them to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Cultural Notification

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive including the records of people who have passed away.

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