‘Confused heaps’ and ‘systemic order’: Keeping records in 19th-century NSW
Join us for a fascinating talk that uncovers how official records were created, kept and carefully (and sometimes not so carefully) stored in 19th–century NSW.
From the pleas of public servants for more desk space, to intricate architectural plans detailing shelving, pigeonholes and presses, this talk will examine how records and the work of their keepers was organised and explore the material world of those ‘charged with the arrangement and care of Records’.
The talk includes a viewing of original archival material and will be followed by a guided tour of the Western Sydney Records Centre, home of the State Archives Collection.
This event is presented as part of the Sydney Rare Book Week 2025 program. The program concludes with the Sydney Rare Book Fair at the State Library of NSW, from Thursday 23 to Saturday 25 October 2025.
Related
Collections Series
The MHNSW Collection Series explores the many stories of home, garden, history and life celebrated in these expansive and diverse collections
![[Wingate album] : pencil drawings, watercolour sketches, photographs / Thomas Wingate [pictorial material]](https://api.mhnsw.au/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.mhnsw.au%2Ffotoweb%2Fembed%2F2025%2F08%2F4c521c9038494a71828e87679ac7a62e.jpg&w=1920&h=400&fit=inside&format=webp)
Past event
Catalogues of Lost Dreams
House contents have been sold by auction in Sydney for over 200 years. Discover the gossip behind these sales and view auction catalogues
Thursday 23 October 2pm–3pm
State Archives Reading Room
161 O'Connell Street, Kingswood NSW 2747- Wheelchair accessible
- Wednesday 22 October 10am–12pm