National Library of Australia

Explore the National Library's digitised Manuscripts

Discover Australia through the words of Captain James Cook in the Journal of the H.M.S. Endeavour, get to know Australia's first prime minister, Sir Edmund Barton, through his papers, or find out how Australia's most iconic song 'Waltzing Matilda' came into being.

Explore over 8800 items online by viewing the selection showcased below or browse all digitised items from the Manuscript Collection in our catalogue. To review our progress read Manuscripts digitisation - progress so far and Digitisation - overview.

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November Curator's Choice

This image was recently identified as the only known vintage print of Roald Amundsen's expedition party honouring the Norwegian flag after arriving at the South Pole. Part of Tasmanian views, Edward Searle's album of photographs of Australia, Antarctica and the Pacific, 1911-1915.