Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS), Sydney

Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS), Sydney

• Community

The Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS), Australia’s oldest historical organisation founded in Sydney in 1901, promotes the study of Australian history. The Society organises events, produces publications and provides research advice and support to its membership network of individuals and local historical societies, with a particular focus on New South Wales local and community history.

Australian Local History, collection covers all towns in New South Wales.

History House, at 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney has been the home of the RAHS since 1970, however the building has a long and fascinating history, which dates back to 1871. For further details see https://www.rahs.org.au/history-house-project/history-history-house/

The C H Bertie and Hugh Wright Memorial Library contains a valuable research collection of more than 60,000 items on Australian history. The collection includes publications, photographs, manuscripts, press clippings, ephemera, maps, journals, newsletters of our affiliated and other societies, a complete set of the Society’s Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society, as well as Sands Directories and the NSW Statistical Registers.

Particular resources available on the RAHS website include:

• An exploration the ways in which the first European crossings of the Blue Mountains were commemorated in 2013. One of the key characteristics was the importance of the spirit of Reconciliation, with the participation of the Darug and Gundungurra Aboriginal communities in many of the commemorative activities.
• Beyond the Blue Mountains: Following the Road from Bathurst examines the history of New South Wales inland settlement and the ways in which this history is remembered.
• The Osborne Collection: six albums containing over 320 photographs primarily of the City of Sydney, dating from the early 1920s to the late 1930s. The photographs are now fully digitised, indexed and available online.

See the ‘Explore Our Collections’ section of the website (https://www.rahs.org.au/collections-overview/).
Entries in National Library of Australia Guide to Collections of Manuscripts Relating to Australia

Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Closed public holidays and between Christmas and New Year.

History House (133 Macquarie Street) is opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens, within easy walking distance from Wynyard, Circular Quay, Martin Place and St. James railway stations.
Disability Access: Access to History House is also possible via Phillip Lane. There is a disabled toilet on the basement level and lift access to the auditorium and reception rooms. Please contact the RAHS for more information.

General reference assistance and referral to paid researchers is available. An introductory brochure is also available.
For information about the library, see https://www.rahs.org.au/library-services/
For A Contact and Enquiry Form, see https://www.rahs.org.au/contact-visit-us/
To Ask a Librarian a question, see https://www.rahs.org.au/ask-a-librarian/

Copying services are available.

3 June 2019

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Thematic area)
• Agriculture (Thematic area)
• Built Environment (Thematic area)
• Family / Domestic Life (Thematic area)
• Genealogical (Thematic area)
• Immigration (Thematic area)
• Industry, Manufacturing and Commerce (Thematic area)
• Local Studies (Thematic area)
• Social Organisations and Activities (Thematic area)
• Travel and Exploration (Thematic area)