The Melbourne Athenaeum Library will be closed for the public holiday on Monday January 26.
The library will be open regular hours on Saturday January 24 and Tuesday January 27.
Members are warmly invited to attend the 2025 Gary Morgan oration, which will be delivered by Simon Plant, a Melbourne writer and researcher with a special interest in Australian performing arts history.
George Coppin and Barry Humphries: How two great showmen made Melbourne marvellous is the title for the oration, a Rare Books Melbourne event being held in the library on March 5.
Simon holds a Masters Degree in Australian History and his first book is titled Entertaining Mr Coppin: An Antipodean Showman in Civil War America (Theatre Heritage Australia, 2025).
Simon’s journalism career spanned 30 years, during which he covered every facet of arts and entertainment. He has also co-curated three exhibitions including Making a Song and Dance: The History of the Australian Musical at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Simon has written two plays, acted with the Goodfa Business Theatre Company (with speechmaker Campbell McComas) and is a long-standing member of the Melbourne Savage Club.
The performance will be held on Thursday 5 March with doors opening at 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start. This event is free for both members and non-members. Bookings can be made through Trybooking using this link.
