National Archives of Australia facts for kids
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 1961 |
| Preceding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Australia |
| Employees | 437 (June 2007) |
| Annual budget | AU$86.98 million (2007-08) |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport |
| Website | www.NAA.gov.au |
The National Archives of Australia is a special government office in Australia. Its main job is to collect and keep important government records safe. Think of it like a giant memory bank for the Australian Government.
The main office is in Canberra, Australia's capital city. There are also smaller offices in each state capital and in Darwin.
Contents
History of the Archives
The National Archives started in 1961. Before that, another group, the Federal Parliamentary Library, looked after government records. They had been doing this since World War I.
A special law called the Archives Act 1983 was passed. This law made sure that government records would be protected. It also gave the National Archives the important job of keeping these records safe.
What the Archives Collects
The National Archives keeps many different types of records. These include documents about Australia's Federation, which is when Australia became a nation. They also have records about Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and government Cabinets.
The collection also covers most things the government has been involved in. You can't just walk in and look through everything. You need to ask to see specific items in their reading rooms. You can also get copies of records.
Accessing Records
Most records that are more than 30 years old can be seen by the public. However, some information might be removed from documents. This happens for things like national defence and security details.
Private information about people is also kept secret. This includes raw census data, which is information collected about everyone in the country. Also, some information that is culturally sensitive to indigenous Australians might not be available to everyone.
Online Collections
The National Archives has put some of its collections online. This makes it easier for people to see them. For example, you can find all Australian military service records online. These are records of people who served in the military from the Second Boer War to the Vietnam War.
In 2005, documents about immigration and naturalisation (becoming a citizen) that were over 30 years old were also made available online.
Images for kids
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The National Archives of Australia national office in Canberra.
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The eastern side of the building where the National Archives is located, in 2009.
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Peter Durack in 1948.
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William James (Jack) Mildenhall photographed in 1927.
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See also
In Spanish: Archivos Nacionales de Australia para niños
