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Hear Their
Voices Again

Help us preserve 100 years of memories
Not all history is written down

State Library Victoria holds more than 20,000 recordings of conversations with Victorians – conversations about their lives, their families, their work and the moments that shaped our state.

Every voice is irreplaceable, and every story is worth saving.

But many of these precious voices will soon be gone. The analogue media used to capture recordings from past decades – such as cassettes, reel-to-reel and VHS tapes – is deteriorating. Without urgent preservation, they will soon become unplayable.

With your help, we can save them.

Please donate before 30 June to help preserve these stories.

Wendy Lowenstein recording an oral history, c.1969, photograph courtesy of the Lowenstein family.

Save Victoria’s voices

Support the appeal.
Every dollar makes a difference.
Make a donation
Support the appeal.
Every dollar makes a difference.
Make a donation
Preserve 10 minutes of audio
$25
Donate $25
Give today
Preserve 20 minutes of audio
$45
Donate $45

Memories worth preserving

Martie remembers Wendy

Martie’s mum, Wendy Lowenstein, was a pioneering oral historian who travelled the country in the 1960s and recorded hundreds of life stories.

What we’re doing

These voices can’t wait.

To save this remarkable collection, it will cost $2 million.

See the milestones in our preservation program:

  • $200,000: Digitise the most fragile and significant recordings
  • $500,000: Preserve the most requested interviews
  • $1 million: Save half the collection
  • $2 million: Complete preservation program and make the collection accessible.

Your donation will help make this possible.

Project milestones

Milestone diagram

Urgent action is needed to preserve these stories

With your support, these voices can be saved and heard for generations to come.

Donate now