Past exhibitions
We have presented exhibitions based on our collection since 1993. At our National Office in Canberra we also host exhibitions created by other institutions and individuals.
View exhibitions currently showing in Canberra and around Australia.
Exhibitions created by the National Archives
Strike a pose...with Lee Lin Chin
2008 to October 2012 – touring exhibition
With fashion icon and broadcaster Lee Lin Chin as guest curator, Strike a Pose celebrates the emerging local fashion industry of the 1960s and 70s, along with its personalities, trends and influences.
View exhibition images
Summers Past: Golden Days in the Sun 1950-1970
December 2005 to April 2012 – touring exhibition
A vivid reminder of our enduring love affair with the sun and the sea. View exhibition images
Stanley Melbourne Bruce: Prime Minister and Statesman
December 2009 to May 2010 – Canberra only
Sportsman, soldier, prime minister, international statesman and visionary – Stanley Melbourne Bruce (1883–1967) promoted his country's interests on the international stage for over half a century. View exhibition images. View the research guide in our online shop or email us for a free catalogue: naasales@naa.gov.au
Bar the Gates – With 'Beauforts'
August 2006 to January 2007 – Canberra only
In 1939 the Australian Government embarked on an ambitious program to mass-produce Beaufort aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The RAAF recruited artist James Northfield (1887–1973) to create propaganda posters promoting its role in the war effort. View exhibition images.
Just Add Water: Schemes and Dreams for a Sunburnt Country
March 2005 to March 2009 – touring exhibition
An exploration of the social, scientific and ecological impact of our relationship with water. Buy a catalogue from our online shop, read about the exhibition in Memento (pdf, 1mb) or view educational resources Sunburnt Country? (pdf, 1.2mb), Water Dreaming (pdf, 1.3mb) and Watering Inland Australia (pdf, 1.5mb).
It's a Dog's Life! Animals in the Public Service
November 2003 to January 2009 – touring exhibition
Highlighting the contribution animals have made during peacetime and war. Read about the exhibition in Memento (pdf, 1.8mb) or view educational resources Huskies Banned! (pdf, 4.2mb), Mush! (requires Flash), The Very Hungry Cactoblastis Cactorium Caterpillar (pdf, 2.5mb) and 'Wog dog' – vector or victim? (pdf, 3.7mb).
Beacons by the Sea: Stories of Australian Lighthouses
October 2002 to October 2006 – touring exhibition
A look at lighthouses, the people who lived and worked in them and the central role these beacons have played both before and since Federation. View lighthouse drawings and read about the exhibition in Memento (pdf, 2.2mb).
A Vision Splendid – How the Griffins Imagined Australia's Capital
April to September 2002 – Canberra only
Featuring the original drawings of Canberra created by Marion Mahony Griffin for Walter Burley Griffin's winning entry in the 1912 federal capital design competition. The drawings are on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Read about the exhibition in Memento (pdf, 2.2mb), buy the book from our online shop or view Mahony's drawings online.
Wine! An Australian Social History
March 2001 to June 2004 – touring exhibition
Australia's wine industry is as old as European settlement. An exhibition based on oral histories and the National Archives' records relating to the production and distribution of wine. Read about the exhibition in Memento (pdf, 935kb).
Belonging – A Century Celebrated
January 2001 to November 2002 – touring exhibition
The many and varied experiences of 'belonging' in Australia in the twentieth century. Developed by the National Archives, the National Library of Australia, the State Library of Victoria and the New South Wales State Library. View the exhibition online.
Unexpected Archives
September 2001 to October 2006 – touring exhibition
Guest curator Robyn Archer's favourites from the National Archives' copyright collection include an application to register advertising for the 1909 Australian tour of magician Chung Ling Soo, aka William Ellsworth Robinson. Read about copyright records in the National Archives or buy a guide to the records from our online shop.
Behind the Wheel: Australians Making Tracks
April 2001 to January 2002 – Canberra only
A photographic journey of nostalgia, recalling some of the vehicles that have choofed, chugged, puttered and purred across the Australian landscape. Featuring photographs of a 1922 Armstrong Siddley, a 1945 Hartnett, an Austin 7 Chummy and the ubiquitous Holden.
Home Sweet Home? Living in Canberra in the 1920s and 1930s
November 1999 to April 2000 – touring exhibition
Life in the early days of Canberra is evoked through the black and white photographs of William James (Jack) Mildenhall (1891–1962). Featuring a selection of images from the National Archives Mildenhall collection and private sources. Buy the award-winning book about the Mildenhall collection from our online shop.
Caught in the Rear View Mirror: With Roy and HG!
August 1998 to August 2003 – touring exhibition
A whimsical look at sport, politics, the media and show business in Australia from the 1950s to the 1970s, curated by comedians Rampaging Roy Slaven (John Doyle) and HG Nelson (Greig Pickhaver). Featuring Australian News and Information Bureau photographs.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered – When the Post Office was King
July 1998 to March 2001 – Touring exhibition
Revisiting the post office of days gone by through personal recollections, architectural plans, letters of the famous and the anonymous, rare photographs and post office memorabilia. Read about post office records in the National Archives.
Eye to Eye – Observations by FE Williams, Anthropologist in Papua 1922–43
November 1998 to September 2001 – touring exhibition
Francis Edgar Williams (1893–1943) was government anthropologist in Papua during a period of immense change. Learn more about records relating to F E Williams in the National Archives. Buy the award-winning book from our online shop.
Canberra's Early Years – Photographs from the Mildenhall Collection
May to September 1997 – Canberra only
In the 1920s and 1930s, William James (Jack) Mildenhall (1891–1962) photographed Canberra as it grew from little more than a vast paddock into the seat of national government. Learn about records relating to the National Archives' Mildenhall collection. Buy the award-winning book about the collection from our online shop.
Scene Stealers – Australian Theatre 1870–1955
October 1996 to January 2000 – touring exhibition
Changing attitudes to women, republicanism, xenophobia and mateship explored through the National Archives' rich collection of theatrical memorabilia. Buy an education kit from our online shop.
An Ideal City? The 1912 Competition for the Design of Canberra
1995 – Canberra only
A joint initiative by the National Archives, the National Capital Authority and the National Library of Australia showcasing the 46 short-listed plans for the competition to design Australia's capital. View the plans online. Read about the exhibition in Memento (pdf, 1.5kb).
John Curtin – A Man of Peace, A Time of War
July 1995 to December 2000 – touring exhibition
The poor country boy who, as prime minister, went on to lead his nation through the darkest hours of World War II. Developed by the National Archives and the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library to mark the 50th anniversary of Curtin's death. View the exhibition online. Learn more about records relating to John Curtin in the National Archives or view the research guide in our online shop.
Selling a Dream – Promoting Australia to Postwar Migrants
November 1995 to March 1999 – touring exhibition
At the end of World War II Australia opened its doors to migrants from Europe and Britain. Many were drawn by advertising campaigns promising a better life. Changing notions of Australian identity expored through photographs, publications and film from the late 1940s to the 1970s. Learn more about immigration records in the National Archives.
Making Our Mark: Trademarks and Australian Identity
1994 to 1996 – touring exhibition
Gems from the National Archives' collection of copyright records, featuring quintessentially Australian products, including Arnott's biscuits. Read about copyright records in the National Archives or buy a guide to the records from our online shop.
Between Two Worlds: The Commonwealth Government and the Removal of Aboriginal Children of Part-descent in the Northern Territory
October 1993 to April 1999 and May 2000 to May 2001 – touring exhibition
The story of the stolen generations told through the eyes of two children of part-descent. Updated in 2000 to incorporate findings from the Bringing Them Home inquiry and the Stolen Generation court cases. Buy the catalogue from our online shop.
Exhibitions hosted by the National Archives
On their own - Britain's child migrants
24 November 2012 to 10 February 2013
A collaboration between the Australian National Maritime Museum and National Museums Liverpool, UK.
CAPO 28: CAPO Annual Art Exhibition
November 2011
Developed by the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation Inc
Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize 2011™ exhibition
September to November 2011
Developed by the South Australian Museum
Built for the Bush - The green architecture of rural Australia
June to September 2011
Developed by the Historic Houses Trust of NSW.
Quest for the South Magnetic Pole
December 2010 to March 2011
Developed by the South Australian Maritime Museum and the South Australian Museum
CAPO 27: CAPO Annual Art Exhibition
November 2010
Developed by the Capital Arts Patrons Organisation Inc
Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize 2010
September to November 2010
Developed by the South Australian Museum
Femme Fatale – The Female Criminal
June to September 2010
Developed by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales
Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize 2009
September to November 2009
Developed by the South Australian Museum
Artists of Steel: The Art of Australian Stamp Engraving
August to September 2009
Developed by the Post Master Gallery
Women Transported: Life in Australia's Convict Female Factories
May to July 2009
Developed by the University of Western Sydney and Parramatta Heritage Centre. Listen to the curator presentation
Waterhouse Natural History Prize 2008
September to November 2008
Developed by the South Australian Museum
Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize 2007
October to December 2007
Developed by the South Australian Museum
Wrecked! Tragedy and the Southern Seas
August to October 2007
Developed by the South Australian Maritime Museum
Humanity in the Midst of Conflict
June 2007
Developed by the International Committee of the Red Cross
Drawing Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Art Collection
May to July 2007
Developed by the Public Service Commission
Antarctic Views by Hurley and Ponting
March to May 2007
Developed by the Australian National Maritime Museum
Patriotism Persuasion Propaganda: American and Australian War Posters
August to October 2006
Developed by the South Australian Maritime Museum
2005 Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award
November 2006 to February 2007
Developed by the Centre of Contemporary Photography
Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize 2005
August to September 2005
Developed by the South Australian Museum
The Policeman's Eye: Paul Foelsche's Photography and Ethnography
November 2004 to February 2005
Developed by the South Australian Museum
Radical Architect: John Horbury Hunt 1838–1904
August to October 2004
Developed by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales
Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award 2004
April to July 2004
Developed by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
From the Steps of Bonegilla: Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre 1947–71
July to October 2003
Developed by the Albury Regional Museum
Chops and Changes: Food, Immigrants and Culture
July to October 1999
Developed by the South Australian Migration Museum
