Copy services

In the Reading Room

Photocopies ordered in the Reading Room may be collected from the reading room. Alternatively we can post you the copies for a fee.

Digital copies ordered in the reading room are delivered by email or DVD.

NSW State Archives does not take responsibility for copies lost or damaged in the postal system

Online/Remote orders

Digitised copies are available via Dropbox, email or post (hard copy prints).

Photocopying

• There are no facilities for researchers to do their own photocopying of original records.

Microform copiers

• Self-service digital copiers are available in the reading room for microforms.

Photography and scanning

• You may copy original records in the reading room using a digital camera or an approved scanner. Self-service digital cameras and a self-service overhead scanner are available in the reading room.
• If you intend to use a personal scanner please contact the Lead Archivist Public Access Services before you visit.
• You are also welcome to engage a professional photographer to copy an item in the reading room.
• Permission to photograph original records is subject to the items being in good condition. Records should not be damaged, bent or mishandled in any way.

See our Reading Room Guide for more information about using digital cameras (flashes are not permitted) and scanners and handling original records.

From time to time certified copies of documents may be required for rights and entitlements and legal purposes. We will certify copies on request. There is no fee for this service. If you require certified copies clearly mark on the order form in the Comments/Remarks section for each item that you require certified copies of the documents.

Kindly note that certification may add to the time taken to despatch the copies.

A proportion of State archives are fragile and for this reason we may withhold access to the original archive until it has received attention from our Conservation staff. Archives will be checked on a case by case basis as they are requested either in the Reading Room or for a copy order. If an archive requires conservation treatment there will be a delay in the archive being issued and/or copied.

Conservation treatments can take up to six months to be completed.

You will be notified if there is going to be a delay in an archive being issued and/or copied and if there will be additional copying charges for special format copying.

If an original record has already been copied (onto microfilm or microfiche or digitised) you will have access to the copy.

To obtain copies from an original that has been copied, you will need to obtain prior approval from the Lead Archivist, Public Access Services.

Payment options are:

• Cash (only for purchases in the Reading Room)
• Credit card (MasterCard and Visa)
• Money order (payable to Museums of History NSW).

EFTpos facilities: in the reading room (minimum $10.00).

Credit card payments: incur a 0.4% surcharge from 1 July 2012. See the NSW Treasury Circular 12/13 ‘Agency recouping of merchant interchange fees’ for more information

Yes, GST is included in all prices.

Urgent orders are via application only. A 25% surcharge applies. Please contact the Reprographics Officer at reprographics@mhnsw.au

The cost varies according to the size of the record and format. Order copies of entries in an Online Index from our State Archives catalogue. The red Details link in the Online Index search results will redirect you to the entry in the Catalogue.

• Delivery Copies delivered electronically by email or dropbox - no additional fee
• ​Postal delivery of hard copies OVERSEAS additional fee of $9.75 per order
• Digital copies of records that are open to public access and ordered through our copy service are uploaded to our catalogue for general use

70¢ per page 

• Loose papers (A4 & A3) - black and white
• Microform - microfilm reel, microfiche, aperture card (A4)
• Microform - microfilm reel, microfiche, aperture card (A3)
• Computer prints including from microform scanners (A4 and A3)

$2.15 per page

• Loose papers (A4 & A3) - colour
• Bound volumes; large format records (over A3)

Postage

For photocopies ordered in the Reading Room after viewing the original record. Express postage is available on request. All prices include GST.

Overseas orders - additional fee of $4.10.

• Delivery Copies delivered electronically by email or dropbox – no additional fee
• Postal delivery of hard copies WITHIN AUSTRALIA additional fee of $5.65 per order
• Postal delivery of hard copies OVERSEAS additional fee of $9.75 per order

Price on enquiry

If you have a specific reference for the categories below you can order copies via the online Copy Service Form or the Standard copy order form

• Delivery Copies delivered electronically by email or dropbox – no additional fee
• Postal delivery of hard copies OVERSEAS additional fee of $9.75 per order

These categories can also be ordered via the Catalogue: Deceased Estate Files, Divorce, Inquest Files 1940-1963, Probate Packets

• Colonial Secretary's Papers - $25.00 each
• Deceased Estate Files - $35.00 each each
• Divorce - $50.00 each
• Inquest Files 1940–March 1963 - $35.00 each
• Miscellaneous assisted immigrants copy service - $10.00 each
• Probate Packets - $50.00 each
• Professions and Occupation Cards - $25.00 each
  • Government Cleaning Service staff: NRS 21352, Staff service cards, 1940-1994
  • Government Printing Office staff: NRS 4436, Staff service cards, 1900-1969
  • Police: AK 724, Police service cards, 1913-1986
  • Railway employees: NRS 19333, Railway Personal History Cards — Employees born between 1900 and 1962
  • Teachers: NRS 15320, Teacher career cards, 1908-1987

We will provide a partial refund of $15.00 if a card is not located.

• Up to 20 pages within 30 mins
• Over 20 pages within 3 working days*

Self-service copy machines for researchers are available

Within 15 working days* from date of receipt of order and payment

• Up to 20 pages within 15 working days*
• Over 20 pages - please discuss with staff when the order is placed

Within 20 working days*