With over five million items, the National Library of Australia is the country's largest and most important depository of books, maps, music, manuscripts and pictures. It also houses oral histories and online content.
It all started in 1901, with the foundation of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Library that served both Federal Parliament, then in Melbourne, and the nation. In 1927 Parliament and Library moved to Canberra and in 1960 their separation was sanctified, with the elegant new National Library building opening in August 1968. Among the treasures here are Cook's Endeavour journal and three copies of Gould's The Birds of Australia.