Stories from the archives

A photograph of a sea eagle on the arm of its handler. NAA: A1200, L58173.

Harry Frauca: snapshots of the bush

In over 20 years as a wildlife photographer, Harry Frauca contributed to what we know about native Australian wildlife and the habitats they call home.

Prince Charles at the wheel of a white Commonwealth Ford LTD, Richmond RAAF Base

Driving the royals

The royal tours of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in the 1950s and early 1960s are still fondly remembered for their grace and scale. Making sure they arrived on time at every destination was a fleet of Commonwealth cars and their drivers.

Serventy with a penguin, circa. NAA: K1346, 24

Ships ahoy! Surveying Australian waters for science

Hurried sketches of whales and notes on flying fish. Marine expeditions in the 1930s and 40s contributed to today's knowledge of marine biology and oceanography.

Images from the service record of Lieutenant James Mann. NAA: B883, VX14000

The Battles for Greece and Crete – a personal tragedy

‘Reported missing’. For the Mann family, these dreaded words were the beginning of an agonizing wait to know the fate of their sons.

Card from Audrey Hepburn to Bob Hawke. NAA: M3826, 23, pp 128.

Gratefully, Audrey

In 1989 two stars aligned - the first from the silver screen, and the second a 'Silver Bodgie'.

Edwin Clarendon Cox's reference letter from Don's Garage, 21 April 1941. NAA: A9301, 37094

To whom it may concern: WWII letters of reference

Letters of reference in World War II service records offer a glimpse into enlistees' pre-war lives.

Prince Philip is greeted by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, 1956.

Prince Philip in Australia

A treasure trove of records from the National Archival collection document Prince Philip's many visits to Australia.

The North Melbourne air crash

The North Melbourne air crash of 1943 occurred just a few hundred metres from where the National Archives' Victoria office is now located.

Three adults wearing different quarantine garments over their head and face.

Closed borders and broken agreements: Spanish Flu in Australia

Australia’s response to the Spanish flu pandemic was marked by disagreements between state and federal governments.

Four tiny fragments of moon rock encased in an acrylic dome

To the moon and back

Four tiny specks of moon rock are one of the most significant objects held in the collection of the National Archives of Australia.

Illustration of anthropomorphised post office equipment

Fantastic finds: post office ball programs

A colourful program for the Postmaster-General's Ball, 1960 .

Monorail above a crowd of people at Expo 88

Together we’ll show the world: Telecom Expo Info

We look at the state-of-the art technology that helped visitors explore Expo 88 in Brisbane.