NSW State Archives

Keeper of the NSW State Archives Collection dating from the late 18th Century to today. Explore the collection

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

We are now Museums of History NSW, a new cultural institution that will change the way our past is experienced.

Our vast collection of Archives has combined with the 12 historic houses & museums, & the important collections previously in the care of Sydney Living Museums.

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay 28 October 1916 Australians voted in a plebiscite on wartime conscription. Even the soldiers at the front had the opportunity to make their voices heard.

The divisive debate fractured communities across the country. The ‘No’ vote won.

https://t.co/50VwUR0IES

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

WE'RE HIRING Seeking an ongoing Archivist. This role will undertake a wide variety of operational archival, clerical and administrative tasks and projects in relation to the State Archives Collection. https://t.co/fjhQAW145v #career #recruiting

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay 24 Oct 1889 NSW Premier Sir Henry Parkes made his famous 'Tenterfield Oration' in favour of Federation. The speech was given at the Tenterfield School of Arts & called for "a great national government for all Australia".

https://t.co/8rvhmPKCui

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay 19 October 1872 the Beyers and Holtermann nugget, the largest single piece of reef gold ever discovered in the world was found by workers of the Star of Hope Mining Company at Hill End. It stood 144.8cm high, 66cm wide and 10.2cm thick.

https://t.co/Dw7MARlxMh

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OTD 18 Oct 1909, NSW agreed to surrender approx. 2400 sq kms of the state for the creation of the Australian Capital Territory.

Walter Burley Griffin won an international comp in 1912 to design the capital and the name 'Canberra' was announced in 1913 https://t.co/ZgudHZRi2H

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

The Museums of History NSW Act 2022 was recently created paving the way for a new cultural institution focused on the history of the state. This Act establishes Museums of History NSW, bringing together @sydlivmus and @nswarchives

Find out more: https://t.co/kunAOWCcU8

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#RareBookWeek is coming up soon! Join us in person for "Stationery binding: Intricate examples from the @nswarchives"

View collection highlights with these intricate bindings & join a hands-on session exploring vellum lacing patterns.

BOOKNGS ESSENTIAL: https://t.co/fpo6U5mgqm

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

Search 200,000+ entries from the Colonial Secretary's correspondence 1826-1896!

The Colonial Secretary's records are among the most valuable sources of information on all aspects of the history of the Colony & the State of NSW.

Find out more: https://t.co/UzTBQXk3IO

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

@naagovau What fun! We're going with a paper hat for #NationalHatDay 📰🎩

[Museums of History NSW @MusHistoryNSW]

Discover visions of a city that might have been at our latest exhibition Unrealised Sydney at the #Museum of #Sydney.

More: https://t.co/qSg89WKxS8

Photos © James Horan for Sydney Living Museums

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay 7 Oct 1916 Taronga Zoo officially opened on the shores of Sydney Harbour in Mosman. The NSW Govt granted 43 acres for the new bar-free zoo. It was home to monkeys, seals, elephants & over 500 birds.

Browse more photos in our catalogue https://t.co/X3sqZpMP6o

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

Join us next Friday 14 Oct @ 10.30 for our mini webinar on private hospital records. Whilst we don't hold records of patients in private hospitals, you can find out more about the operation of hospitals in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Register: https://t.co/k2zgd8hpr1

[Museums of History NSW @MusHistoryNSW]

A holiday photo taken in NSW from the early 20th century!

📷 picturesque scenery at Wallacia, near Penrith, a popular holiday destination for city dwellers. June 1918. NSW State Archives: NRS 4481, St6274

See Sydney Snapshots at the Museum of Sydney: https://t.co/YQzkWTrIMl

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

The recording of our 'digitised records' webinar is now online. We've been undertaking a large digitisation project of at-risk material in our Collection such as glass plate negs from the late 19th & early 20th C, insolvency files & school files.

WATCH: https://t.co/4d43sWaA0y

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay in 1813 the 'holey dollar' and 'dump' coins became legal tender in NSW. Governor Macquarie commissioned convict forger William Henshall to cut the centre (the dump) out of each coin and stamp them with NSW

https://t.co/1OvPYpy3OK

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

The recording of our Conditional Purchase Q&A session is now available.

Conditional purchase was a process of obtaining a Crown Grant of land in NSW before it was surveyed. Watch as we discuss how to navigate this tricky area of research.

https://t.co/YMdNBvTPCS

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay 27 Sep 1851 was the last known official duel in NSW between Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson (who became NSW Premier in 1856) & Sir Thomas Mitchell (Surveyor General). Each fired three shots with Mitchell's last shot blowing off Donaldson's hat.

https://t.co/83CLe2YbaI

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

We will be closed tomorrow Thursday 22 September for the National Day of Mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

[NSW State Archives @nswarchives]

#OnThisDay 13 Sep 1955 NSW Government launched an international design​ competition for an Opera House at Bennelong Point. The competition received 233 entries from architects in 32 countries around the world. Jørn Utzon was announced the winner in 1957 https://t.co/WbFrs71uHa