Rare Bites is a series of lunchtime lectures showcasing treasures and some lesser-known gems from Rare Books & Special Collections at the University Library.
This session explores Australia’s first lottery, held in Sydney in 1849. This lottery was surrounded by controversy and was probably illegal. It was immensely popular however, and the government turned a blind eye because it seemed the only way of averting the consequences of a financial disaster. The Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections holds one of the tickets issued for the lottery, plus the full list of prizes.
This Rare Bites talk is hosted by Dr Neil Radford, who was the University Librarian from1980-1996. Dr Radford is currently Patron of the Friends of the University of Sydney Library; on the Executive of the Chancellor’s Committee, and Voluntary Editor at the Dictionary of Sydney.
