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Digital Classroom

Explore Australia's history at the National Library's Digital Classroom, aligned with the Australian Curriculum. With over 10 million items, we support diverse learning styles, fostering inquiry-based learning for students to analyse sources and draw conclusions about the Australian story.
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A painting of a busy 19th-century Bourke Street, Melbourne, with horse-drawn carriages, pedestrians, and shops lining the street. Crowds gather on both sides, and a variety of people are depicted walking or riding.

Tom Roberts, Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1886, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134285521

Changing streetscapes

Topic 

Discover how streetscapes have evolved over time by comparing depictions of Bourke St, Melbourne over time to foster student discussions about urban change and its impact on daily life.

Humanities
Year 3
Australian history
drawing of the Eastern Shore of Murray Island looking North West

Supreme Court and Australia High Court (1981) Papers of Bryan Keon-Cohen [manuscript]: the Mabo case, 1981-2000, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224081463

Challenging terra nullius

Topic

Explore evidence of Aboriginal agriculture and settlement in pre-colonial Australia to challenge the concept of terra nullius.

Humanities
Senior Secondary
Australian history
Explorers
First Australians
A photo of a woman standing and speaking to a room of seated and standing people.

Francis Reiss, [Anna Burke, Federal member for Chisholm, at the Chisholm Aged Care Forum, Mt. Waverly Community Centre, Melbourne, October or November, 2001], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-146654777

Be informed, get involved: Participating in Australia’s democracy

Topic

While the majority of Australians participate in our democracy during elections, there are ways of participating and sharing your beliefs throughout the year.

Humanities
Year 8
Australian history
Democracy
Protest and dissent
Detailed botanical illustration of a vibrant red waratah flower with long, green leaves on a white background.

George Raper, Wa-ra-ta [waratah (Telopea speciosissima)], 1788, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-150069197

Australian emblems and official symbols

Topic 

Learn about Australia’s national emblems and official symbols, and the emblems of your state or territory using images and objects from our collection.

Humanities
Year 3
Australian history
Geography
Literature and writing
A vintage poster featuring a large blue-toned illustration of a man's face and hand, positioned above the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The man’s hand is raised with fingers partially curled. Below, the Harbour Bridge is shown at night with city lights reflecting on the water.

Tom Purvis, 1888-1959 & Australia's 150th Anniversary Celebrations Council & Australian National Travel Association, Australia's 150th anniversary celebrations Sydney - summer season, 1938, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135689940

Australia Day

Topic 

Discover the origins of Australia Day and guide students to consider what it means  to different people using promotional material from our collection.

Humanities
Year 3
Art, drawing and illustration
Australian history
blue, yellow, and red poster advertising the beach

Gert Sellheim & Australian National Travel Association. (1936). Sunshine and surf : Australia, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6385925

Art in advertising

Topic

Poster artists working for The Australian National Travel Association (ANTA) had to decide which pictorial styles would best convey Australia’s attractions.

Arts
English
Humanities
Year 10
Art, drawing and illustration
Australian history
Literature and writing
Copy of a printed playbill containing details for a performance of Jane Shore at the Sydney Theatre in 1796.

George Hughes (Government Printer), Playbill for a performance of Jane Shore, The Wapping Landlady and The Miraculous Cure at the Theatre, Sydney 30 July 1796, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1419486 - the earliest surviving document printed in Australia.

An early arts scene

Topic

This playbill, or poster, advertising a theatrical performance at the ‘Theatre, Sydney’ on 30 July 1796, is the oldest surviving printed document produced in Australia.

Humanities
Year 5
Australian history
First Australians
A buff coloured manuscript of 'Waltzing Matilda'

From Macpherson, Christina Rutherford. & McCall McCowan, Joan, Papers relating to the song "Waltzing Matilda", nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224075208 nla.gov.au/nla.obj-224076484

A national identity

Topic

Waltzing Matilda is recognized as Australia’s most popular folk song.

Humanities
Year 6
Australian history

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