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State Library of Queensland  >  Find...  >  Virtual exhibitions  >  Treasures Wall  >  Education resources

Education resources

The Talbot Family Treasures Wall provides access to some of the rare and significant items held by the State Library of Queensland. The State Library's collections have developed through the generosity of donors, through purchase or legal deposit since the its inception in 1902.

The Treasures Wall provides students with a unique insight into Queensland’s heritage – celebrating both the achievements of Queenslanders, and the wealth of material that has been acquired for the cultural enrichment and enjoyment of Queenslanders. Treasures Wall displays change three times per year, giving students the opportunity to reflect on, and research, a variety of published and original materials. The State Library can be a real research tool for your studies.  Original materials can be viewed and then information about them can be accessed onsite at the State Library.

This educational material has been produced to aid in the appreciation of items on display in the Treasures Wall, and can be used in conjunction with a visit to the State Library, or as an independent study resource in the classroom.

Two worksheets have been prepared to assist students’ enjoyment of the Treasures Wall. They are intended to be used in conjunction with a visit to the State Library of Queensland.

• Download primary worksheet [new window 292 KB]
• Download secondary worksheet [new window 292 KB]

The Talbot Family Treasures Wall is situated on Level 4, State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, South Bank, Brisbane.

What makes a treasure?

Items displayed in the Talbot Family Treasures Wall may represent some of our greatest individual endeavours and our highest intellectual achievements, or may have a particular, local interest. While some treasures may have been created as unique, exquisite objects prized for their artistry and highly valued, others may have had more prosaic beginnings, becoming treasures through their history of ownership, unique story or sheer survival through the ages.

How were these treasures selected for the Talbot Family Treasures Wall?

The treasures on display have been selected specifically from the State Library's John Oxley Library, the Australian Library of Art and the Map Collection. The aim of these collections is to support research into Queensland’s history and cultural life, fine arts in Australia and Queensland maps. To achieve this, State Library staff have carefully selected and acquired materials through purchase, donation or ‘legal deposit’. You can find a lot of different materials in these collections including books, pamphlets, serials, newspapers, manuscripts, original artworks, photographs, ephemera (throw-away items), maps, music, oral history, microforms, audio-visual materials, multimedia resources and physical and online electronic information sources. Some of these have been published, but many – such as paintings – are original materials which are unique items.

From the thousands of items to choose from, a selection was made to display in the Talbot Family Treasures Wall. These displays change every four months, giving visitors an insight into the wealth of heritage items held in the State Library.

Discussion point: What do you think makes a treasure?

• A treasure could be old, new, glamorous, plain, precious, worthless, rare, common, personal, public, ordinary, extraordinary. Think of different objects to match each of these words – could any of these objects be treasures? What would make them a treasure?
• What are some things you consider to be treasures? Why?
• Look at the items on display in the Talbot Family Treasures Wall. Discuss why you think they may be treasures.

Challenge questions

• Discuss the subjective nature of what constitutes a ‘treasure’.
• What is the difference between the cultural, social and personal significance of an object?
• Who determines the ‘value’ of a treasure? Discuss this in relation to a limited, personal sense, and a broader, global sense.
• Look at the items on display in the Talbot Family Treasures Wall. Discuss your answers to the questions above in relation to these items.

Research: more about treasures

• Look up any of the terms that are unfamiliar to you, for example 'legal deposit', 'acquisition', 'illuminated address'.
• Investigate our heritage and discover many more treasures in the State Library. Try Picture Queensland for some great images from Queensland’s history.
• Look up treasures in other libraries, try the National Library of Australia [new window] for starters.
• Interview your parents and grandparents about what they consider to be treasures – when they were your age, and now.
• Contact your local historical society, museum or group. Find out what treasures are in your own community.

Activity: Compose your own treasures wall

• Make a collage of treasures from photos, found objects, magazine or digital images. You can do this on the computer or by using a large sheet of paper. What objects or images did you select and why? What stories does your treasures wall tell?

Activity: What makes a treasure treasured?

• Select a personal treasure. Use three words to describe why you think it is a treasure. Compare your words with one of your fellow students. Are any of the words the same? Different? Discuss why.

Activity: Pack your bags!

• Imagine you are travelling to the other side of the world, and don’t know when (or if) you will be returning. You can take only one bag – your school bag. What would you take with you? Write a list, and say why you would take each of these items. Compare your list with your friends – what is similar, what is different? Would your list be different if you were going on a two week holiday?

Artists' books

Visit Artists' books online for other educational resources. Discover what an artist's book is, the many different types and styles of artists' books in the State Library's collection, the different ways they can be made and how you can make your own.