The National Archives collection focuses on records created by the Australian Government since the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. We also hold records from before 1901 that relate to government functions transferred by the colonies to the Australian Government at the time of Federation and subsequently.

After gathering your basic information, you need to confirm that we hold the type of records you are looking for. On this website you can:

• find out about the scope of our collection – provenance, formats and what we don't have
• explore topics in our collection – including migration, defence and Indigenous Australia
• browse our 250 fact sheets – on subjects like war service records, lighthouses and Papua New Guinea records
• have a look at our research guides – most can be downloaded for free

Sometimes the National Archives is not the best place to start your research. This is particularly the case if you are seeking information about Australia before 1901. There are many kinds of records we don't hold.

Other archives and collecting institutions might hold records more relevant to your topic. You can find out their contact details in Fact Sheet 2 – Addresses of other Australian archival institutions.