A place where you can put your feet up, settle back and explore at your
leisure a range of exciting multimedia experiences showcasing the State Library's
unique collections, past exhibitions and events.

Treasures of the Battye Library
Explore some of the many treasures from the fascinating collections of the Battye Library. The Battye Library has a vast array of publications including books, newspapers, periodicals, maps, ephemera, as well as original records such as oral history tapes, photographs and artworks, films and video, and non-government records kept in the library's Private Archives collection.

WA Musical Memories Online
WA Musical Memories Online provides access to the digitised musical scores that the State Library has contributed to the National Library's MusicAustralia project. These scores reflect the mood of the nation in the early part of the 20th century. Many of the scores are written by West Australians, including the three-time Governor of WA, Sir William Robinson. Print friendly copies of the scores are available.

How We're Portrayed - Images Selling Western Australia
Explore images used over the past 70 years to portray Western Australia overseas and interstate.

The Freycinet Collection
This web site provides background information on items that were purchased at the Christies' auction in September 2002 and are now part of the State Library's collections.

2003 Perth International Arts Festival
Find out more about the wonderful events that were presented at the 2003 Perth International Arts Festival. Using the information skills of the State Library's librarians we have provided biographies, reviews, synopses and links to resources available at the State Library or through your local public library.

Western Stories
With developments in digitising technologies the State Library collections can now be brought together in novel and exciting ways to tell new stories about our past history - our very own Western Australian Stories.

• Women in Western Australia
  The story of women in Western Australia, through the twentieth century, is told through the use of original photographs and text specially written for the site. In images held in the Battye Library Pictorial Collection we see women at work and at play and, with the aid of an illuminating text, and quotations from publications through the century, the important and often unrecognised contribution that women have made to our community is made clear. The site was funded by a private donor through the Western Australian State Library Custodians Inc. and the Save Our Century Fund.

• Western Perspectives on a Nation
  This collection of 8 web sites comprises images from the Battye collections that tell the story of Australia's economic and social development through the twentieth century - as viewed from Western Australia. The seven linked sites funded by the National Council for the Centenary of Federation, through the Western Australian State Library Custodians and the Save Our Century Fund, cover the themes of architecture and building, the land, the sea, mining, transport, migration and settlement, and clothing. An eighth site showing images of women through the century has been added through the generosity of a private donor to the Save Our Century Fund.

• Rica Erickson
  This web site was created as a tribute to Rica Erickson, who holds a special place in Western Australian history as naturalist, author, genealogist and historian. It provides samples from various Battye Library collections to illustrate her life and achievements, set in context with biographical information.

• Western Australia and Federation
  Celebrate one hundred years of nationhood. Images, documents and oral histories from the Battye Library are used to tell the story of Federation from a western perspective. Organised in three sections, Western Australia and Federation examines WA's reluctant entry into Federation (1890-1910), its popular secession movement (1929-1939) and issues affecting Commonwealth-State relations today.

• Stuart Gore Photographer - A Virtual Exhibition
  This exhibition celebrates the work of local Western Australian photographer and film maker, Stuart Gore. Many of Gore's photographs and films produced between 1920 and the late 1940's are held in the collections of the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History. These photographs and films, together with extracts from an oral history interview, have been integrated in this interactive multi media product.

• Memories of Picnics
  A fascinating look at a favoured weekend outing, The Picnic. This lovely site will share images from picnics in the first half of the century, jog your memories with food labels and advertisements, and even provide some long-forgotten recipes.

The Passey Collection
Browse at your leisure through this eclectic selection of photographs of Western Australian life in the early part of the twentieth century. The collection is named after the owner who acquired it. The images are believed to be from the Rome Studio, 631 Hay Street West, Perth (1900-1910). Earlier images in the collection are known to be by S.M. Stout, Nixon & Merrilees and L. Gray-Williams & Co. The collection now resides with the State Library in the J.S. Battye Library.

Documenting a Democracy
Through the efforts of the State Records Office, the State Library has contributed to a collaborative project by the National Archives to produce a website which brings together Australia's key legal and constitutional charters.