From dramatic events that shaped the nation to decisions that touched the lives of individual Australians, the records the National Archives holds are about people – from the ordinary to the famous – and their interactions with the Australian Government.

The National Archives is responsible for caring for the most significant records of the Australian Government. Most of these records were received, created or kept by government agencies. The archive consists of tens of millions of items, and includes records about immigration, military service, transport, Indigenous Australians, science and the environment and much more.

• Scope – what's in the collection, provenance, formats and limits
• Explore – a range of topics to whet your appetite for archival research 
• Research – how to find and use our archival records
• Issues & insights – research papers and articles focusing on our collection
• FAQ – answers to frequently asked questions

Search the collection using RecordSearch or PhotoSearch. Search for a person in our collection using NameSearch. Browse our fact sheets.