Curated collections

The collection includes around 15,000 items dating back to the 1800s.

It was formerly part of the Aquinas Library; established in 1932 by the Christian Brothers’ Old Boys’ Literary and Debating Society.

Important Queensland Catholic literary figures donated items to the Aquinas Library. They include Martin Haley, Rev. T.P. Boland, Rev. O.K. Oxenham and John P. Kelly.

The collection is on permanent loan to our Brisbane Library from the Archdiocese of Brisbane. Registered Library members can borrow from this collection.

The inaugural Aquinas Lecture was delivered in 1944 by Mr John P. Kelly in the rooms of the Aquinas Library.

The lecture series ran yearly at the Aquinas Library from 1944-1950. It was re-established in 1979 by the Aquinas Library and later continued by the ACU Brisbane campus.

View digitised Aquinas Memorial Lectures

A resource detailing the lives and work of those who have made a significant contribution to Australian Catholic Education.

Browse the BDACE Collection

The collection includes almost 1,500 items dating from the 1800s to the 1940s.

Access to the collection is available at our Melbourne Library. We keep the items in locked glass cabinets on the lower ground floor.

Consult the collection within the Library on exchange of ID.

The collection is named after children’s literature lecturer, Mrs Elisabeth (Dinny) Culican. She started the collection at Christ Campus in Chadstone, Victoria (a former ACU campus).

Read the story of the Culican Children's Book Collection

Browse the Culican Collection

A collection of books, manuscripts and artefacts.

Search and access Historical publications (North Sydney)

The collection includes over 5,000 items dating from the 1840s to the 1990s.

Access to the collection is available at our Melbourne Library. We keep the items in locked glass cabinets on the lower ground floor.

Consult the collection within the Library on exchange of ID.

The collection continues to grow from the generous donations of John and Grace Nolan.

Read the story of the Nolan Historical Children's Literature Collection

Browse the Nolan Collection

The collection includes over 1,300 items dating from the mid-1800s to today.

Access to the collection is available at our Melbourne Library by request on weekdays between 9am – 5pm.

Consult the collection within the Library on exchange of ID.

The collection originated from the personal library of Catholic priest, musician and scholar, Rev Dr Percy Jones.

Read more about the collection and Rev Dr Percy Jones

Browse the Percy Jones Collection

A subset of the St Paul’s Theological College Collection, the collection includes around 1,200 items.

The collection originated as the personal library of James Quinn, the first Bishop of Brisbane.

In the early 1860s, he brought many of the items from Ireland to Brisbane when he was appointed as Bishop. The collection continued to grow after his arrival in Brisbane.

Consult the collection within the Library by prior arrangement.

Browse the Quinn Collection

One of the leading theology collections in Australia, it includes around 35,000 items.

It belonged to the Province of Brisbane; a group of dioceses of the Catholic Church in Queensland.

Access to the collection is available at our Brisbane Library. We keep older items in locked glass cabinets and they are not available for loan.

We add new items to the collection each year. Registered Library members can borrow from this part of the collection.