While the State Library is well-known for its impressive collection of rare books, manuscripts, maps and pictures, it also holds a bizarre collection of curious yet iconic Australian objects that will feature in a new public display opening on Saturday 28 November.

The free Stranger than fiction display presents 14 strange objects and relics - many previously unseen - including hand-made bird whistles, a lump of soil from the SCG during the bodyline series and convict dice made out of bone.

The display includes Henry 'birdman' Grace's collection of hand-made bird whistles donated to the Library by his family. The eccentric Sydney street character designed his own bird whistles and bird notation so that he may 'talk with the birds'!

The objects range from the historically significant, such as rare WW1 memorabilia and the typewriter used by Nobel Prize winner Patrick White, to the sentimental and beautiful, like Dame Nellie Melba's Cartier hairpin case.