State Archives Collection
Making history every day
The NSW State Archives Collection documents the daily work of the NSW Government and its agencies from 1788 to today. This vast collection records history as it happens, providing valuable and at times life-changing evidence of events and decisions that have shaped, and continue to shape, our history, communities and lives.
Online indexes, research guides & webinars are listed in Subjects A-Z. You can also search all the indexes at once via the catalogue.
Popular research subjects
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About us
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How to use the State Archives Collection
The largest collection of records relating to the history of NSW and the lives of its people
First Nations Community Access to Archives
This project aims to improve access for First Nations people to important archival material about culture, kinship, stories, and languages within the State Archives Collection
Collection strengths
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Search for people & places
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Assisted Immigrants index 1839-1896
Passengers arriving in Sydney & Newcastle 1844-59, Moreton Bay 1848-59 & Port Phillip 1839-51
Convicts index 1791-1873
140,000+ entries including certificates of freedom, bank accounts, & tickets of leave
1841 Census index
Records the population by police districts, counties & towns. The head of the household is recorded in the returns
Gaol inmates & prisoners photos index
Browse 50,000+ entries & download digitised photos from 1870 to 1930
Watch & learn
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Researching your house and property
Learn how to find house and property records in the NSW State Archives Collection
Probate packets
This webinar focuses on the sources for probate in the State Archives Collection and how to find them
Unassisted passenger lists online
Unassisted passengers are those who paid their own way. This webinar explains how to search lists of unassisted passenger arrivals to NSW
Settlers’ Muster Book, 1800
This webinar led by Dr Carol Liston AO, Adjunct Associate Professor in History at Western Sydney University, explores the contents of the Settlers’ Muster Book 1800
The records of Liverpool Asylum
This webinar explores the records of the Liverpool Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute (1862-1933) and was later known as the Liverpool State Hospital and Home (1933-1961)
![Government Printing Office; NRS 4481, Glass negatives NRS-4481-4-161-[AF00198139] Agricultural College Boys [Department of Agriculture] [no date]](https://images.mhnsw.au/fotoweb/embed/2024/11/b88091c8c68940ef96998726599064bf.jpg)
Raising the Farmer
Explore with us some of the 6,000 unique and beautiful glass negatives taken to illustrate articles in the Agricultural Gazette of NSW – now digitally available on our website, a unique slice of rural life
![Government Printing Office; NRS 4481, Parramatta [Gaol] [Department of Public Works] [no date]](https://images.mhnsw.au/fotoweb/embed/2024/10/ff1b55b6ea2949599ca5f060fffaf43b.jpg)
Tracing NSW gaol inmates
This webinar shows you how to use the State Archives collection to trace your ancestors through the NSW prison system, uncovering their crimes and incarcerations
What can you find?
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Schools: what the files can tell you
School files very strongly reflect the growth or decline of towns and are an excellent source for your local history research
Bankruptcy: what the files can tell you
Bankruptcy files contain lists of creditors that the bankrupt person owed money to and debtors that owed money to the bankrupt person
Probate packets: what the files can tell you
Probate packets hold the last will and testament, codicils, an inventory of assets of the estate, affidavits of death and other papers
Stories & articles
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Canberra – the federal capital contest
This record series from the State Archives Collection sheds light on the proud efforts a number of towns, villages and other areas took to present their submissions to become the capital of the new Commonwealth
Sydney Opera House drawings
An International Competition for the design of a National Opera House at Bennelong Point was held in 1956. We hold the original drawings submitted by Jørn Utzon and other competition records
Celebrating federation
The Commonwealth of Australia was proclaimed on 1 January 1901. The Federation Pavilion in Sydney’s Centennial Park was the focus of the inauguration ceremonies and a five mile procession through the decorated streets of Sydney was greeted by large crowds
Cummeragunja Walk Off
The Cummeragunja Walk Off which began in February 1939 has been described as the first ever mass strike of Aboriginal people in Australia. It brought about changes to the Aborigines Protection Act of NSW
Eveleigh Workshops during the 1917 railway strike
On 2 August 1917 the General Strike began. It started in the Randwick Rail Workshops & Eveleigh Carriage Workshops & quickly spread to other industries until about 100,000 workers were on strike
Tilly Devine & the Razor Gang Wars, 1927–1931
Learn about the Razor gangs and their leaders Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh
History of Taronga Zoo
Can you imagine Sydney Harbour without Taronga Zoo perched on Bradley’s Head at Mosman? For one hundred years families have been making the trip by ferry, tram and car to see the exotic and native animals at Taronga and get a picturesque view of the harbour
Central Railway Station: through the Lens
Highlighting the transformation of Central Railway Station from its opening in 1855 to 1921 when the clocktower was completed
News
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Envisioning the ‘Sydney National Opera House’: A different ‘Red Book’
A variant version of the ‘Red Book’ – with additional plans dated May 1958 – has recently been generously donated to Museums of History NSW by Mr Mark Matheson
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Languages alive 2024
In the second annual NSW Aboriginal Languages Week, held on 20–27 October, we celebrate the determination and courage of First Nations peoples to maintain and revitalise languages
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Wages Paid to Orphans – a regional tour
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Collections on Tour program on Wages paid to orphans, 1849-1851