Overview
Love has always been a little bit rebellious. From secret letters and forbidden relationships, to modern-day DMs and fandom-fuelled devotion, the search for connection has rarely followed the rules. And a new exhibition at State Library Victoria is shining a light on those who dared to break them.
Free to visit, Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations dives deep into Australia's romantic past, present and imagined futures. Drawing from the Library's vast archives of intimate diaries, handwritten letters and rare manuscripts, the exhibition traces centuries of passion and pain — amplified by newly commissioned music from some of Australia's most compelling artists.
Angie McMahon
The stories at the heart of the exhibition span eras and circumstances. Visitors will meet figures like Anne Drysdale and Caroline Newcomb, the so-called 'gentlewoman farmers' who lived together in the 1840s, their bond preserved through Drysdale's diaries. Angie McMahon's new musical work will draw directly from those personal writings.
Elsewhere, Wiradyuri-Filipinx artist Mo'Ju will respond to the letters Aileen McColl wrote to Immigration Minister Harold Holt, pleading for her Filipino husband to be allowed to return home to Melbourne.
Music legends Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter will also feature, with their extraordinary love story — forged while sleeping rough as teenagers and sustained through decades of artistry — honoured in a new piece by their son, Amos Roach.
Mindy Meng Wang
Another highlight will come from a letter of unrequited love discovered tucked behind a painting in the Library in 2009, reimagined through a commission by Mindy Meng Wang.
Even bushranger lore gets a romantic reframe, with the story of Captain Moonlight and James Nesbitt, who met in Pentridge Prison and remained together until Nesbitt died in Moonlight's arms during a shoot-out.
The exhibition doesn't stop at the past. Rebel Heart also explores how we connect now — and what love might look like in years to come — through mixtapes, fandoms, zines, fan fiction, AI relationships and digital intimacy. Visitors can look forward to more contemporary artefacts on show too, including Taylor Swift friendship bracelets from the Australian leg of the 2024 Eras Tour.
Victorian Valentine's Day cards will feature in Rebel Heart
Timed to coincide with Valentine's Day, the Library is also hosting a slate of themed events.
Highlights include Love Letters Live, featuring candid and comedic readings by beloved comedians hosted by Nina Oyama, and Love and Art, an intimate evening series exploring how love shapes creative practice, launching with Melbourne duo The Huxleys.
Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations opens February 12th, 2026 at State Library Victoria.
Images: Supplied