National Archives of Australia, South Australia State Office, Adelaide

National Archives of Australia, South Australia State Office, Adelaide

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Archives Act 1983 (Cth)

Officer-in-charge: Regional Manager South, Access and Public Engagement, South Australia State Office, Adelaide

See National Archives of Australia, National Office

The National Archives, South Australia State Office, Adelaide office holds a small but diverse collection ranging from nineteenth century colonial records inherited by the Commonwealth to substantial holdings on immigration and defence in the twentieth century.

Of particular interest are the Defence Science and Technology Organisation records and material relating to railways and internment in South Australia.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation records include files, slides and plans of the Woomera testing site. This collection also includes the human side of the missile testing in South Australia with the Gibber Gabber newsletter, and Bulldust news sheet produced by staff involved in atomic bomb testing.

The railway collection contains files, plans, and photographs, captures the broad history of mainland rail – Australian National as well as Central Australian Railways, Northern Australian Railway and the Trans Australian Railway – reflecting South Australia’s central role in the rail industry.

The records of the Loveday internment camp document security service aspects of individuals’ internment. They include personal particulars, arrangements for appeal and release, security service, tribunal notes and mail censorship material.

The National Archives’ collection database, RecordSearch, gives online access to the National Archives’ holdings Australia-wide.
For access to RecordSearch, see the link from www.naa.gov.au.

The following guide provides information about records held by the National Archives about South Australia. Many of these records are held in the South Australia State Office, but others are held in National Office or other National Archives State Offices.
Commonwealth Government Records about South Australia, by Sara King, 2013 (see https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/research-guides/commonwealth-government-records-about-south-australia)

For a list of research guides to the National Archives’ collection, see: https://www.naa.gov.au/help-your-research/research-guides

The National Archives research centre within the Somerville reading room at the State Library of South Australia is open Tuesday to Friday 10am–5pm.
Closed on public holidays.
Note: For up-to-date information on opening times, see https://www.naa.gov.au/visit-us/south-australia
The Somerville reading room at the State Library of South Australia is shared between the National Archives and the State Library.

See National Archives of Australia, National Office

Maps and information about parking, public transport and onsite wheelchair access to the reading room are available. at: https://www.naa.gov.au/visit-us/south-australia

See National Archives of Australia, National Office

Information about ordering copies of records and associated fees is available at https://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/our-services/supplying-digital-copies-records

Revised 31 January 2022