Queensland State Archives

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Queensland State Archives

• QSA

• State

Queensland State Archives (QSA) connects Queenslanders with their past - the histories of their families, the local community and the state - by ensuring that the significant records of government are available and accessible.

Our archival collection comprises millions of public records dating back to the early Moreton Bay penal settlement of 1823. We support government integrity, maintaining the corporate memory of government by overseeing the making and keeping of Queensland’s public records. As the state's lead agency for government recordkeeping, QSA offers practical recordkeeping advice and tools to over 500 Queensland public authorities.

Public Records Act 2002 (Qld)

Officer in charge: Executive Director and State Archivist

Queensland State Archives is the official repository for those records of State Government Departments, Local Government Authorities, State Courts, Commissions of Inquiry and Statutory Authorities which are considered to warrant permanent preservation for historical, legal administrative or other reasons.

On site there are two main building each housing repositories and staff areas. Building one was opened in 1992 and also contains the Reading Room. Building two was opened in 2009.

• Executive Council: Minutes
• Colonial Secretary/Home Office/Premier: Correspondence
• Government Resident, Moreton Bay: Correspondence
• Governor's Office: Correspondence
• Immigration: Passenger lists and migrant files
• Land: Leasehold registers and files
• Cabinet: Minutes
• Education: Records relating to schools, children and teachers
• Supreme Court: Civil and criminal files, ecclesiastical files, intestacies, naturalisations
• Works: Government building plans and files
• Treasury: Correspondence
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programs: Correspondence
• State Electoral Office: State electoral rolls.

Approximately 67km of records.

• ArchivesSearch catalogue at https://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/
• Visit our website to explore our collection by topic at https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/collection
• Visit our online indexes to search for people etc by topic at https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/search-the-records

Open Monday to Friday from 9am-4.30pm. The Reading Room is also open on the second Saturday of every month 9am-4.30pm.
Closed Public Holidays and the Christmas to New Year holiday period.

Restricted period of 30 years applies to most records. Access to restricted records may be gained with written authority from the head of the creating agency or its legitimate successor.

• Car: Queensland State Archives has free undercover car parking which includes disabled parking bays.
• Train: The nearest train station is Fruitgrove Station, on Beenleigh Road, Runcorn. Please check the train timetables before planning your journey. The walk from Fruitgrove Station to the State Archives building takes approximately 45 minutes (3.5 kilometres).
• Bus: As at 2018 Brisbane City Council Bus route no. 150 from Queen Street Bus Station stops on the corner of Gowan and Compton Roads, approximately 900 metres from the Archives. Brisbane City Council Bus route no. 152 from Garden City stops at Eisenhower Street, directly opposite the Archives (check TransLink for the current timetable).
• Free taxi service: As at 2018, the Archives provides a free taxi service between the Archives and Fruitgrove Railway Station, Nectarine Street, Runcorn, each Tuesday. To book a seat, please contact us on the Monday prior to your Tuesday visit. For further details, see https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/starting/facilities

The Reading Room is equipped with facilities to help you with your research, including:

• touchscreen computers for access to our catalogue, online indexes and other computer resources
• power outlets on desks for laptop computers
• microfilm copying machines (you are able to use your own USB or you can purchase one onsite)
• large-screen digital map reader.

A reader's lounge includes: tea and coffee facilities, refrigerator and microwave and an undercover outdoor courtyard.​
Free undercover parking and lockers to store bags safely are also provided.
Wheelchair access is available to all public areas.

Copies of digitised records are available free of charge from ArchivesSearch. Copies can also be sent to you by file transfer, on USB or by email, depending on the file size.

Copy requests can be placed in person in our Reading Room, or by using the Request digital copy function within ArchivesSearch.
 
More information can be found on our website:  https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/arts/heritage/archives/starting/copying

The Archives has many treasures and resources for both government and public clients. We host regular events and have displays of some of our collections. Visit our Flickr page (https://www.flickr.com/photos/queenslandstatearchives/) or the QSA blog (https://blogs.archives.qld.gov.au/) for a glimpse into our collections.

Revised 7 February 2021

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Thematic area)
• Agriculture (Thematic area)
• Arts and Culture (Thematic area)
• Built Environment (Thematic area)
• Education (Thematic area)
• Environment (Thematic area)
• Genealogical (Thematic area)
• Geography (Thematic area)
• Immigration (Thematic area)
• Indigenous (Thematic area)
• Industry, Manufacturing and Commerce (Thematic area)
• Labour (Thematic area)
• Law and Justice (Thematic area)
• Local Studies (Thematic area)
• Natural Resources (Thematic area)
• Politics and Government (Thematic area)
• Transportation (Thematic area)