Archives on tour
Connecting regional NSW with stories from the Collection
Archives on Tour was an annual initiative designed to bring items from the collection to communities across regional NSW.
The program began in 2019 with a focus on the 1828 Census, touring several towns recorded in this historic document. The second instalment, Archives in your Town, virtually showcased highlights from six major archival series, to six towns across NSW. This was followed by a program focused on Schools—often the heart of a town—capturing not just the highs and lows of community life, but also its lighter moments, such as days off for the local show.
Following several successful years, Archives on Tour was reimagined as Collections on Tour to showcase a wider variety of materials from across the MHNSW collections.
Archives in your town
At the heart of every town are its people and places
Explore digitised archives and rediscover the buildings and individuals that helped shape your community. Watch webinar recordings and enjoy a curated tour of 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.
1828 Census
The 1828 Census was the first official census undertaken by NSW. It covers some 36,500 inhabitants, both convict and free, and captures a social and economic picture of the Colony of NSW in November 1828, 40 years after the Colony’s establishment.
1828 Census
Browse the digitised alphabetical returns. This was the first official census undertaken by NSW and covers some 36,500 inhabitants, both convict and free
1828 Census - mini webinar
The 1828 Census alphabetical returns are digitised and can be viewed online. This webinar takes a close look at the returns and what they can tell you
Local history
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Electricity Commission
These photos record the power generation and transmission assets of the organisation and document the working conditions and social events of its employees
![Government Printing Office 1 - 02086 - Oyster bed [From NSW Government Printer series: Ballina], 1926](https://images.mhnsw.au/fotoweb/embed/2024/07/daae115dafd84c36a71fbe135d080e53.jpg)
Oyster culture leases files
The government started to encourage oyster fisheries from 1868 and later introduced oyster leases. This webinar focuses on our series of NRS-1302 Oyster cultures leases files, which tell the stories of the people who held these leases between 1920 and 1978
Cast in cast out: recasting fragments of memory
An in-depth look at Dennis Golding's experiences and childhood memories of growing up in ‘The Block’
Public Works photographs: an unsung treasure
The amazing quality and variety of the photographs taken by the Public Works Department is a testament to the photographers. This webinar explores these images in depth
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
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)
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
Surveyor General guide
These cartographic records provide detailed descriptions of the nature, agricultural potential & occupancy of land in the colony
Bankruptcy: what the files can tell you
Bankruptcy files contain lists of creditors that the bankrupt person owed money to and debtors that owed money to the bankrupt person