Queensland State Archives

Queensland State Archives Queensland State Archives (QSA) is the custodian of the largest and most significant documentary heritage collection in Queensland.

It manages, preserves and facilitates public access to the state's permanent archival public records. As the lead agency for recordkeeping, Queensland State Archives is also responsible for the development and implementation of a whole-of-government recordkeeping policy framework. This framework ensures a consistent approach to the creation, management, disposal, storage, preservation and retrieva

l of government information. Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 4.30pm, excluding Public Holidays and the Christmas to New Year holiday period. The public search room is also open on the second Saturday of every month from 9.00am to 4.30pm. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander followers are warned the photographs on this social media channel may contain images of deceased persons which may cause sadness or distress.

31/08/2026

🎨 Before Canva... 🎨 Before Photoshop...

🎟️Register for our next QSA Talk here: https://bit.ly/4x4QT3V

This Wear it Purple Day, let’s reflect on LGBTQIA+ history in Queensland and the records we hold at QSA. 💜Our archives c...
27/08/2026

This Wear it Purple Day, let’s reflect on LGBTQIA+ history in Queensland and the records we hold at QSA. 💜

Our archives contain few records directly related to LGBTQIA+ communities. Why? Because for much of Queensland’s history, homosexuality was criminalised. This absence - or the criminal nature of the records that do exist - reflects the discrimination and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals during that time.

Today, QSA plays a role in addressing these historical injustices by expunging criminal records related to homosexuality from the era when it was illegal.

One significant document we do hold is the Queensland Government’s Cabinet minutes from 1990 (pictured), which outline the Government’s position on Homosexual Law Reform and street marches. This short but powerful record shows the Government of the day supporting reform - an important step forward, even though it would take decades for broader equality, including the ‘Yes’ vote for marriage equality, to be achieved.

The gaps in our archives remind us of the silences in recorded history, but they also highlight the importance of preserving and celebrating LGBTQIA+ stories today and into the future. 🏳️‍🌈

🎨🖨️ Before digital design, there was the Queensland Government Printing Office.For more than a century and a half, gener...
25/08/2026

🎨🖨️ Before digital design, there was the Queensland Government Printing Office.

For more than a century and a half, generations of printers, artists and apprentices helped shape Queensland's visual identity through government publications, posters, reports and official documents.

Join curator and historian Matthew Wengert as he uncovers the Devils, Designs and Details behind this remarkable institution and the people who kept it running.

🗓️ Date: Thursday 3 September 2026
🕒 Time: 11am–12pm
📍 Location: QSA, 435 Compton Road, Runcorn
🔗Get tickets: https://bit.ly/4x4QT3V

Today, 25 August, we honour Australian South Sea Islanders National Recognition Day. 🌺🏝️Between 1863 and 1904, over 62,0...
24/08/2026

Today, 25 August, we honour Australian South Sea Islanders National Recognition Day. 🌺🏝️

Between 1863 and 1904, over 62,000 indentured contracts were issued for Pacific Islanders who travelled to Queensland on more than 800 voyages. These labourers came from islands now known as Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji, Kiribati, and Tuvalu.

For 40 years, tens of thousands of Pacific Islanders worked on Queensland’s plantations, often underpaid, treated harshly, and enduring significant hardship. Their contributions were vital to Queensland’s development and laid the foundation for the vibrant Australian South Sea Islander community we know today.

At QSA, we hold extensive records that document the stories, families, and experiences of South Sea Islanders. Want to learn more? Visit our blog to explore this important chapter of Queensland’s history: https://bit.ly/3RBT2VY 📖

in 1989, the Queensland Government approved the first-ever legislative "Guidelines for Home Schooling Dispensations", ...
22/08/2026

in 1989, the Queensland Government approved the first-ever legislative "Guidelines for Home Schooling Dispensations", providing a formal framework for home education across the state.

This milestone was tied to the introduction of the Education (General Provisions) Act 1989, which formally defined "Distance Education" under Queensland law for the first time. This legislation also paved the way for decentralised regional distance education campuses, including the transformation of the Cairns and Charleville Schools of the Air into Schools of Distance Education.

Earlier that year in July 1989, the Brisbane School of Distance Education was officially established through the amalgamation of correspondence schools for preschool, primary, and secondary students. This centralised institution became a hub for delivering quality education to students across Queensland.

From itinerant teachers on horseback to lessons via post, radio, and now digital technologies, Queensland has a proud history of ensuring education reaches every corner of the state. Today, distance education continues to evolve, connecting students and teachers through innovative tools and resources. 👩🏼‍🏫🤝

21/08/2026

Do have a favourite record in our collection? 🌺📜

Hear from Tayla, a member of our team fond of watercolour illustrations by naturalist and artist Estelle Thomson. 🎨

To learn more about these beautiful records, head to our blog: https://bit.ly/4fePv9b

Earlier this year we heard from expert bookbinder Darryn Schneider for our Printed & Bound QSA Talk: The art and craft o...
18/08/2026

Earlier this year we heard from expert bookbinder Darryn Schneider for our Printed & Bound QSA Talk: The art and craft of historic bookbinding! 📜📓

Darryn shareds his favourite records from our collection, sharing history, informative facts and explaineds how these incredible records were created.

🎥 Missed the event? Watch the full recording here: https://bit.ly/4gdfwVj

Discover the story behind QSA! 🕰️ 📖Here at QSA, we’re passionate about preserving and sharing Queensland’s rich history ...
17/08/2026

Discover the story behind QSA! 🕰️ 📖

Here at QSA, we’re passionate about preserving and sharing Queensland’s rich history - from pivotal political moments and family legacies to First Nations stories and remarkable discoveries.

But what about our own story? In our latest blog post, we turn the pages back to explore the fascinating journey of QSA itself.

Drawing on Fiona Gaske’s ‘Queensland State Archives: The First Thirty Years’, we revisit our humble beginnings and trace our transformation into the modern, state-of-the-art facility we are today.

📚 Read the full story and uncover the history of QSA on our blog: https://bit.ly/4gCncT4

Check out the fancy dress from 1954! 🤩This photo and features several children in various fancy-dress outfits and cost...
10/08/2026

Check out the fancy dress from 1954! 🤩

This photo and features several children in various fancy-dress outfits and costumes at Bullamon Plains, an area now known as Thallon, southwest of Toowoomba.

We spot a Queen, maybe a mini-Charlie Chaplin, a Little Bo-Peep, a doll in a box, and potentially Glinda from The Wizard of Oz! Who do you see, or do you know any more information about this gem of an image? We’d love you to share in the comments! 📸🔍

It’s Ekka Week! 🎠 🎡In 2026, Queensland celebrates a huge milestone – 150 years of the Royal Queensland Show, fondly know...
07/08/2026

It’s Ekka Week! 🎠 🎡

In 2026, Queensland celebrates a huge milestone – 150 years of the Royal Queensland Show, fondly known as the Ekka! Since 1876, the Ekka has been a beloved tradition, bringing Queenslanders together to enjoy strawberry sundaes, animal displays, showbags, woodchop competitions, sideshow alley, and spectacular nightly fireworks. 🎆

As Queensland’s largest annual event, the Ekka welcomes around 400,000 visitors each August, with 21,000 competition entries, 10,000 animals, and endless family fun. It’s a celebration of our agricultural roots and community spirit that’s stood the test of time.

We hope everyone attending this year has an amazing time – stay safe and enjoy the festivities! 🎉

Keen to take a trip down memory lane? Check out our Flickr album for some nostalgic Ekka throwbacks: https://bit.ly/3AvpKNw

Address

435 Compton Road
Runcorn, QLD
4113

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+61730376777

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