Archives on tour

A focus on regional NSW

MHNSW engages across the state through our Regional Network and touring exhibitions. Our Archives on tour initiative is another way to focus on regional NSW.

Archives on tour began in 2019 with the 1828 Census touring a number of towns recorded in the Census.

Archives in your town is the second program and virtually takes parts of six of the big series of archives that cover the whole state to six different towns across NSW.

This was followed by Schools which are often the centre of a town and reflect the good times and bad times but also the fun times like days off for the local show.

Archives in your town

At the heart of every town are people and buildings. See digitised archives and remember some of the buildings and people that make your town. Watch the webinar recordings and take a tour of the highlights from our virtual events.

Schools

Schools reflect the culture and location of the town - early finishes so the children can help with the milking or more pupils attending while the railway is built nearby. Teachers move from school to school frequently and their leave records can provide many details about their lives.

Watch the recordings of the Schools events

Plan of Cooma public school

Cooma school records

Explore the NSW town of Cooma through its school records

Coonabarabran school records

Explore the NSW town of Coonabarabran through its school records

Boats moored at an inlet

Ulladulla school records

Explore the NSW town of Ulladulla through its school records

Students pose for photo in front of school building

West Wyalong school records

Explore the NSW town of West Wyalong through its school records

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Plans of public buildings

A sample of digitised building plans showing gaols, hospitals, pilot stations, post and telegraph offices, schools and tramways

Local history guide

Resources in our collection to help local historians trace the history of a place

screenshot of digitised theatre file showing plan of seating

Theatres & public halls: what the files can tell you

Theatres and public halls had to be licensed from 1895. They were owned by private individuals, businesses, religious organisations, community groups and councils and they were used for many purposes – dances; social gatherings; showing movies; live entertainment and skating (roller and ice)

building plan from the Broken Hill Public School file

Schools: what the files can tell you

School files very strongly reflect the growth or decline of towns and are an excellent source for your local history research