By NOEL MURPHY
ANY BOOK 440 years old will take on a weather-beaten appearance but the tome Kristen Thornton produced this week at Deakin University has seen distance as much as age in its time.
A classical text by the Roman historian Sallust, it was purchased by Australian prime minister Alfred Deakin in Toluca, Mexico in the 19th century after being published a couple of hundred years earlier in Lyon, France.
The 1575 text is one of numerous treasures about to go on exhibition at the Deakin Waterfront campus’ Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library.
The library has hosted several exhibitions on its namesake in the past but this will be its first to focus on Deakin’s career on the world stage.
Entitled “Alfred Deakin: from journalist to international diplomat”, it will feature books, artefacts, photographs, audio-visual and colourful installation showcases celebrating the public identity of one of Australia’s founding fathers of Federation.
A gifted journalist, public speaker and man of the world, Deakin served three terms as PM.
“We’ve done exhibitions of his family life, his Australian life, this will be the first looking at the international side to him – the politician, diplomat and journalist,” curator Kristen Thornton said.
Ms Thornton showed the Independent an exquisitely-engraved sterling silver inkwell presented to Deakin in 1904 by the Federal Press; a token, she said, of the esteem in which he was held.
“It’s a good example of how well he was thought of,” she said.
The exhibition will run from April 9 at the Alfred Deakin Prime Ministerial Library, Level 1 Atrium, The Sally Walker Building, Deakin Waterfront Campus.
