A searchable, archival documentation of Australia's history through its primary documents: constitutions, letters, orders, legislation, and more. Browse by location, theme, time, or by photo. A glossary is also provided. Each document is available with a historical background, physical description, and a transcript.
The website draws from valuable material collected for Film Australia’s Australian Biography TV series, which features remarkable individuals who have had a major impact on our cultural, political and social life.
From dramatic events that shaped the nation to decisions that touched the lives of individual Australians, the records the National Archives holds are about people – from the ordinary to the famous – and their interactions with the Australian Government.
The records of the Australasian Federation Conference of 1890 and the Australasian Federal Conventions of 1891 and 1897/8 are among the most significant founding documents of the Australian nation.
Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia License.