Exhibitions
View exhibitions and displays currently showing at the National Archives in Canberra and venues around Australia. Find out more about our past exhibitions.
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Design 29: Creating a Capital
On now
See the original and rarely displayed designs for Canberra by the 1911 Federal Capital City Design Competition finalists. A once in a century opportunity, these intricate artworks and plans include the winning entry No. 29 submitted by Walter Burley Griffin.
More information about Design 29: Creating a Capital
1 March 2013 to 8 September 2013
National Archives of Australia
Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600 -
Banned
The National Archives in Canberra has updated its café with a new display on banned books. Read about the secret history of Australian censorship as you sip your coffee.
More information about Banned
On permanent display
Open daily from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas and Good Friday)
National Archives of Australia
Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600 -
Discovering Mildenhall’s Canberra
A game of bowls at Hotel Canberra, 1926.
(NAA: A3560, 2691)
Discovering Mildenhall's Canberra is an display of photographs capturing the construction of the national capital.
More information about Discovering Mildenhall’s Canberra
On permanent display
Open daily from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas and Good Friday)
National Archives of Australia
Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600 -
Memory of a Nation
Students from Launceston Church Grammar School explore Memory of a Nation at the National Archives in Canberra
Discover the events and the people – both ordinary and extraordinary – who have shaped this nation. Regularly updated to include new exhibits and interactives.
More information about Memory of a Nation
On permanent display
Open daily from 9am to 5pm (except Christmas and Good Friday)
National Archives of Australia
Queen Victoria Terrace
Parkes ACT 2600 -
Max Dupain on Assignment
Violinist at the Methodist Ladies' College in Burwood, Sydney, 1971
(NAA: B4498, 28E7)Max Dupain on Assignment features striking images of rural and urban Australia, architecture, industry and culture from the 1940s to the 1970s. Many have never been on public display.
More information about Max Dupain on Assignment
9 April 2013 to 12 May 2013
Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre
3 Rocca Way
Wanneroo WA 6065Tour schedule
- Opens:
- 9 April 2013
- Closes:
- 12 May 2013
- Location:
- Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre
3 Rocca Way
Wanneroo WA 6065
- Opens:
- 28 May 2013
- Closes:
- 15 September 2013
- Location:
- Liverpool City Library
170 George Street
Liverpool NSW 2170
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Shell-shocked: Australia after Armistice
Original grave and marker
(NAA: B2455, Henderson J 2383)Shell-shocked: Australia after Armistice explores how the nation dealt with the lingering effects of World War I over the next 20 years.
More information about Shell-shocked: Australia after Armistice
4 May 2013 to 28 July 2013
Museum of Tropical Queensland
70-102 Flinders Street
Townsville QLD 4810Tour schedule
- Opens:
- 1 February 2013
- Closes:
- 23 March 2013
- Location:
- Hervey Bay Regional Gallery
166 Old Maryborourgh Rd
Pialba QLD 4655
- Opens:
- 4 May 2013
- Closes:
- 28 July 2013
- Location:
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Museum of Tropical Queensland
70-102 Flinders Street
Townsville QLD 4810
- Opens:
- 30 August 2013
- Closes:
- 19 January 2014
- Location:
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Qantas Founders Museum
Longreach Airport
Sir Hudson Fysh Drive
Longreach QLD 4730
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Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience
Sledging practice, Cape Denison, Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1912. Photographer: Frank Hurley.
(NAA: M584, 12)Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience celebrates the centenary of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition led by Douglas Mawson in 1911–14 and charts Australian involvement in, and fascination with, Antarctica up to the present day.
More information about Traversing Antarctica: the Australian experience
16 March 2013 to 26 May 2013
Western Australian Museum – Geraldton
1 Museum Place
Batavia Coast Marina
Geraldton WA 6530Tour schedule
- Opens:
- 16 March 2013
- Closes:
- 26 May 2013
- Location:
- Western Australian Museum – Geraldton
1 Museum Place
Batavia Coast Marina
Geraldton WA 6530
- Opens:
- 8 June 2013
- Closes:
- 11 August 2013
- Location:
- Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
17 Hannan Street
Kalgoorlie WA 6430
- Opens:
- 24 August 2013
- Closes:
- 24 November 2013
- Location:
- Western Australian Museum – Albany
Residency Road
Albany WA 6330
- Opens:
- 14 December 2013
- Closes:
- 2 March 2014
- Location:
- South Australian Museum
North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
- Opens:
- 12 April 2014
- Closes:
- 15 June 2014
- Location:
- Museum of the Riverina
Cnr Baylis & Morrow Streets
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650
- Opens:
- 5 July 2014
- Closes:
- 7 September 2014
- Location:
- Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery
1 Barolin Street
Bundaberg QLD 4670
- Opens:
- 20 September 2014
- Closes:
- 1 November 2014
- Location:
- Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum
Cnr Goondoon & Bramston Streets
Gladstone QLD 4680
- Opens:
- 6 December 2014
- Closes:
- 1 February 2015
- Location:
- Hervey Bay Regional Gallery
166 Old Maryborough Road
Pialba QLD 4655
- Opens:
- 14 February 2015
- Closes:
- 22 March 2015
- Location:
- Grafton Regional Gallery
158 Fitzroy Street
Grafton NSW 2460
Federation Gallery
Special viewing dates
Our Federation Gallery contains some of Australia's most significant documents – those that record the founding of the Commonwealth of Australia. We like to refer to these as the 'birth certificates' of our nation.
The seven items in the gallery include the original Constitution Act passed by the British Parliament and the Royal Commission of Assent signed by Queen Victoria on 9 July 1900. They also include documents that record later changes to Australia's Constitution.
The National Archives is committed to ensuring the future survival of this material as well as encouraging and facilitating Australians' access to the documents.
New preservation research techniques measure the impact of light on documents. We balance the documents' future conservation needs with the public's right to access. We now open the gallery for special public viewing days, and for group and school bookings.
Special viewing:
- No current viewing dates.
Our staff will be on hand to show you the documents.
