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Natural History in the Special Collection

Guide to rare books and other materials relating to natural history in the Special Collection.

About the Special Collection and ADPML


The Deakin University Library's Special Collections covers many areas including architecture, education, missionaries of the Pacific, Papua New Guinea, 19th century travel, natural history, scientific expeditions, nutrition, cookery and women in the home.

Access the collection by visiting the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library (ADPML), located in the ground floor of the Dennys Lascelles Building at the Geelong Waterfront Campus. Enter via Western Beach Road or Cunningham Street.

For information on the opening hours and contact information check out Plan your visit website.


Natural History in the Special Collection

(image from: Birds of Australia / Gregory M. Mathews, London, Witherby & Co., 1910-1927)

Deakin University Library's Special Collection has excellent holdings of rare books relating to natural history, early science and voyages of scientific discovery. These include a number of early Australian works, including some fine colourplate books, and influential works from overseas. 

Deakin University has a number of research strengths in areas relating to ecology, marine science and palaeontology and the holdings in the Special Collection aim to support research in these disciplines.


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