The Tom Smith Collection and Reading Room

This custom built space provides a home for Justice Smith Collection and a dedicated space for our Law students.

The majority of this collection was purchased over the life of T. W. Smith with additions by his son T. H. Smith and donated to RMIT’s GSBL in 2009.  The collection is significant because it shows a snapshot of what reference material a law practitioner would have found important during the middle part of the last century (approx 1930-1980). Further items that enhance the collection have been donated by Phillips Fox and J. McL. Emmerson, the Graduate School of Business and Law and its staff.

Highlights of the collection include:

  • The Law Reports – a close to complete collection from 1865
  • Weekly Law Reports – issues from 1843
  • Victorian Law Reports – a near complete collection to 2008

View more images of the reading room

Opening hours

Students enrolled in our Law programs have access to the room via their RMIT swipecard. Other clients seeking access to this space, please contact the Schools Services Officer.

Key contacts

Stephanie Bryceland - Schools Services Officer

Graduate School of Business and Law

Resources

The Justice Smith Collection is not a formal law library. Some essential reference books including Seton’s judgements and orders, William’s bankruptcy practice and Lewin on Trusts, among many others can be found by either searching the collection through the Victorian Collections website or through Trove adding this to the search phrase: (nuc:"VJSC") so you only get results housed in the reading room.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.