Stories from the archives

Macquarie Island, Mid-winter magazine, June 22, 1963.

There are no souvenir shops in Antarctica

Magazines and yearbooks created by expeditioners stationed in Antarctica. These keepsakes describe to people back home what living, working and relaxing in such a remote location was like.

A young boy in a brightly coloured shirt reaches out to the Queen.

Long did she reign

Her Majesty, Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth (21/4/1926 – 8/9/2022).

Protesters at Franklin dam holding signs and an Australian flag.

Environmental issues from the not so distant past

We put our collection under the microscope to explore the many fascinating stories about Australia’s environment, and our relationship with it.

Koiche Ose performing as the samurai 'Shintaro', preparing for a swordfight with a ninja.

A samurai in Sydney

'The Samurai' was the first Japanese program shown on Australian TV. When the stadium show came to Australia in 1965, it caused a sensation.

Nelle Law smiling and dressed in a red waterproof jacket.

Smuggled to the Antarctic

Smuggled on board a Norwegian ship in 1961, Nelle Law was the first Australian woman to set foot on Australian Antarctic Territory.

From refugee camp to the MCG

Between 1948 and 1954, 5,000 Ukrainian 'displaced persons' found refuge in Australia. Among them was future Aussie Rules legend Alex 'Jezza' Jesaulenko.

Waging war on the prickly pear

Attempts to stop the prickly pear in its march across eastern Australia were nothing less than full-scale war.

Coloured drawing detail of building elevations and section.

Off the drawing board

Melbourne is renowned for its amazing public architecture. Designs of buildings once owned or leased by the Australian Government provide a window into history.

‘George’ the cross Labrador/Greenland husky, Heard Island

Australia’s Antarctic huskies

Huskies became a part of Australia’s Antarctic expeditions in 1949, when Australia inherited their dogs from the French. Their descendants remained until 1992.

Detail of passenger list written in Japanese characters.

Deathly silence

On 1 July 1942, the Montevideo Maru, was torpedoed off the Philippines. All of the Australian Prisoners of War and civilian internees onboard drowned.

Sallay bin Abdullah’s identification paperwork, NAA: J2773, 774/1916

Opium watch

It’s an age-old story: ships, sailors and smuggling. With opium smoking outlawed in 1905, smuggling became increasingly lucrative.

Regine Weiss application for registration as a refugee with passport photo.

Exodus from Vienna

Following the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938, many members of Vienna’s Jewish community sought refuge overseas. Amongst them were the Weiss family.