Australian Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne

Australian Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne

• State

Collecting began in the late 1970s and two early major acquisitions were the J C Williamson Theatre Archive and the Dame Nellie Melba Collection. Today, the collection holds over 680,000 items, including major acquisitions from Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave, Barry Humphries, Bell Shakespeare, the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Australian Opera and The Australian Ballet.

Staff-in-charge: Collections Coordinator, Online and Research.

The Australian Performing Arts Collection focuses on performing arts including circus, theatre, opera, dance and music.

Holdings include:

• J C Williamson: Documents, programs, photographs, 1900-1980.
• Barry Humphries: Documents, programs, photographs, artwork, 1960- present.
• Dame Nellie Melba: Correspondence, programs, photographs, 1880-1930.
• Aztec Services - Beatles Australian Tour: Documents, 1964.
• Bert Myer Chevron Hotel Collection: Documents, photographs, artwork, 1955-1970.
• Handspan Theatre: Documents, photographs, diaries, posters, 1980.
• Holden Brothers Circus: Documents, posters, flyers.
• Fowler's Australian Dramatic Players: Documents, posters, flyers, notebooks.
• Archive holdings for Playbox Theatre, The National Theatre.

Open Monday and Tuesday 10am-4pm (appointment required).
Closed public holidays.

Research topic should be outlined by letter or telephone and three week's advance notice of visit is required.

The Collections Coordinator provides basic research assistance free of charge. Charges apply for more in-depth research and time, by arrangement.

Researchers are welcome to photograph items for their own research purposes as set out in our access agreement.

Revised 11 April 2018

• Arts and Culture (Thematic area)