Open Day: Western Sydney Records Centre

Come and explore some of the treasures of Museums of History NSW on Dharug Country as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Western Sydney Records Centre, home of the vast State Archives Collection.

See the collection up close, hear from experts on a range of fascinating topics, take a behind-the-scenes tour, and enjoy family friendly workshops and activities with delicious food available to purchase on the day.

Our open day is a rare opportunity to step inside the heart of the state archives and discover the largest collection of records relating to the history of NSW and the lives of its people.

Stallholders

• Ancestry
• City of Sydney
• Nepean Family History Society
• Society of Australian Genealogists
• Hawkesbury Library Service & Family History Group
• Royal Australian Historical Society
• Penrith City Library
• National Archives of Australia
• Penrith Museum of Printing
• Hawkesbury-Nepean Chapter of the Fellowship of First Fleeters
• Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• MHNSW First Nations Access to Archives
• UWS – Records and Archives Management Services

Food vendors

• Mapo Gelato
• Brew Times Coffee
• Pocket Rocketz

Drop-in actvities

Join the team from Lewers: Penrith Regional Gallery to make your own temporary mosaic artwork! Using real tiles once belonging to artist Margo Lewers, you’ll get to play with colour, pattern and design just like she did. Experiment with different combinations, capture a photo of your finished creation, and discover the artistic legacy of Margo and Gerald Lewers and their home in Emu Plains.

Penrith Regional Gallery will also have drop-in activities for kids and families, alongside MHNSW’s family-friendly activities.

Drop-in tours

Guided tours will take you on a journey through the extensive storage areas and the Conservation Lab and introduce you to the publicly accessible Reading Room.

Tours will run every 20 minutes. There is limited capacity for each tour. Please ensure you wear comfortable footwear best suited for walking around and note that there are spaces that are not accessible.

Staff will be on hand to direct you to the tour meeting point when you arrive.

Expert talks

Throughout the day, a series of in-depth talks will provide valuable insights into the stories within the collection and how to undertake your own research. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask an archivist your questions.

Please see timetable and registration links of individual talks below or browse the talk overview.

A separate registration for each talk is required.

Ships, More Ships and Still More Ships – State Dockyards, Newcastle

10.30am–11am: Coleen Milicevic
The NSW State Dockyard, Newcastle, opened in 1942 at the height of World War II. The dockyard played a large role in the war effort by meeting the increasing demand for ‘ships, more ships, and still more ships’. Featuring our recently digitised series of photographs, negatives, slides and microfilm, this talk will explore the records of the State Dockyard, Newcastle, held in the State Archives Collection. Learn about the important work and discover the untold stories of the dockyard found within the collection.
Register now

First Nations Community Access to Archives project

11.15am–11.45am: Gulwanyang Moran
Discover how the First Nations Community Access to Archives project is enhancing access to First Nations archival materials. See some of the materials being uncovered, which contain essential language and cultural information for language and cultural revitalisation.
Register now

Pathways through the search: an overview of land research in NSW

12pm–12:30pm: Stephen Ford
Discover the many pathways to search New South Wales land records and learn how to search for land held in your ancestors’ names. This will include record sets in the State Archives Collection that relate to Primary Applications, Valuation Records and Crown Lands. It will also showcase the records available to be searched via the Historical Land Records Viewer (HLRV), an online application which provides access to more than 19 million images of historical maps, plans, titles, registers and indexes.
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The site of Australia’s first Government House – and what might have been

12:45pm–1.15pm: Jane Kelso
Remarkably, the site of Australia’s first Government House remained largely undeveloped for more than 140 years after its demolition in 1845–46, despite numerous schemes for this valuable CBD land. MHNSW historian Jane Kelso will explore some of the site’s many lucky escapes from development before tangible remains of the first year of colonisation were discovered, paving the way for today’s Museum of Sydney.
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World War II: a million digital records at your fingertips through the National Archives of Australia

1.30pm–2pm: Rachel Cullen
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AI for Local and Family History Research

2.15pm–2.45pm: Andrew Redfern
Discover how artificial intelligence can unlock the stories hidden in the NSW State Archives. In this 30-minute session, you’ll see how AI can transcribe old wills, extract and organise data from records, and reveal community patterns that link family and local history. A short overview of the technology will be followed by practical demonstrations to show how AI can enhance your research.
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Voices from the Archives – Married Women Teachers’ applications 1932–35

3pm–3.30pm: Emily Hanna
In the 1930's all married women teachers working for the Department of Public Instruction faced dismissal. To be considered for retention married women teachers had to complete a Statutory Declaration every year explaining their circumstances. We hold declarations for the years 1932-1935. This talk will explore the declarations and the stories they tell.
Register now