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Legal History Research
Supreme Court Library
The Supreme Court Library collection was established by Sir Redmond Barry in 1853 with the intention of creating a joint law library for judges and the legal profession of Victoria.
The Library is regarded as a library of national significance and the first port of call for legal scholars. It is one of the largest law collections in Victoria, containing over 120,000 volumes, including:
- law reports from all Australian and some international jurisdictions
- statutory material, textbooks, periodicals and reference materials
- manuscripts, diaries, photographs and other forms of legal memorabilia.
Many print items in the collection are historically significant and cannot be accessed easily unless you visit the library in person. You can start your research online by searching the Library catalogue.
Selected documents, images and objects are also displayed in the Library. Preservation of these makes an important contribution to Victoria’s legacy and safeguards a valuable resource for scholars of legal history.
If you would like to know more about the Library, you can book in to a tour through our Events page.
Other legal history research collections in Victoria
Below is a list of other legal history research collections in Victoria.
The largest publicly accessible collection of Victorian and Australian government and law publications in Victoria. This includes legislation and law reports from Victoria and Australia, plain-language resources, reference materials and works that popularise aspects of the law such as descriptions of famous trials, biographies and histories.
The Public Record Office holds a vast array of records created by Victorian Government departments and authorities including the State’s courts, local councils, schools, public hospitals and other public offices. Records date from the establishment of the Port Phillip District in the mid-1830s right through to today.
Royal Historical Society of Victoria
One of Australia’s most significant historical collections focusing on the Victorian experience in Australian history. Access by appointment.
Available to Law Institute members, legal professionals and the community. The LIV archives can be used to locate legal records or documents from legal practices and solicitors that are no longer operating.