The State Library New South Wales began as a small subscription library in the 1820s for colonials. The oldest library in Australia, SLNSW holds significant collections of rare books, manuscripts, and pictures. Notable collections include the Richardson Collection, First Fleet Collection, Shakespeare Folios, and the Sir William Dixson Collection.

Founded in 1869, the University of Otago is New Zealand’s first university. It also holds a significant collection of rare books, manuscripts, and ephemera. Notable, the Hocken Collection, Schoults Collections, and the De Beer Collection.

Founded in 1854 as the Melbourne Public Library, State Library Victoria is Australia’s oldest public library and one of the first free public libraries in the world. SLV holds significant collections of rare books, manuscripts, and pictures. Notable collections include the John Emmerson Collection, La Trobe Collection, and Rare Books Collection.

Founded in 1897 as Victoria College, the Victoria University of Wellington is one of New Zealand’s oldest universities. Victoria University has strong collections relating to New Zealand and the Pacific. Special Collections are held in the JC Beaglehole Room.

The National Library of New Zealand was formed in 1965 when the Alexander Turnbull Library, the General Assembly Library and the National Library Service amalgamated. The Turnbull Library (est. 1920) holds significant collections of rare books, manuscripts, artworks and photographs. Particular strengths of Alexander Turnbull’s foundational collection include New Zealand and the Pacific, European exploration of the Pacific region and the works of John Milton.