Queensland State Archives

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Runcorn, QLD
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 retrieval 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.

08/10/2026

Start your research journey with confidence. 🖤💛❤️

Researching your family story can feel overwhelming, especially when records are complex, unfamiliar or connected to difficult experiences.

Mob on Mondays provides free one-on-one support to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples better understand records, navigate archival systems and build confidence in their research journey.

Participants can learn how to use the QSA catalogue, make sense of archival references and develop practical strategies for continuing their research independently.

Whether you're just starting out or picking up where previous research left off, our team is here to help.

📅 Wednesday 14 October & Wednesday 28 October 2026
📍 Queensland State Archives, 435 Compton Road, Runcorn
🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/MobOnMondays

Sometimes the most important discovery is knowing where to look next. 🌿📖

05/10/2026

📚 School's back, and we're already thinking about coffee. ☕

This focused coffee picker was photographed in Atherton in 1927. Nearly 100 years later, we're guessing a few parents and teachers would appreciate the fruits of their labour as they prepare for the first day of term! 😄

02/10/2026

📅 Planning a visit to QSA this October?

Just a heads-up that QSA will be closed this coming Monday 5 October 2026 for the King's Birthday public holiday.

Need some archive time? We've got you covered! 👏 Our Reading Room will be open on Saturday 10 October, giving researchers, family historians and history lovers an extra weekend opportunity to explore Queensland's fascinating stories and records.

Whether you're uncovering your family history, researching a project or simply following your curiosity, we'd love to welcome you.

See you soon! 👋

01/10/2026

What can the archives tell us about the origins of Brisbane?

Join Harry Gentle Research Fellow Robert Braidon as he explores original records, correspondence and historical evidence to investigate a longstanding question: who chose the site of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement?

Through a fascinating examination of archival sources, Robert revisits the 1825 move from Redcliffe to the Brisbane River and reveals the people, decisions and unanswered questions behind an event that helped shape modern Brisbane.

📅 Thursday 8 October 2026
🕚 11am-12pm
📍 Queensland State Archives, 435 Compton Road, Runcorn
🎟️ Register now: https://bit.ly/4xhuMrx

Can't make it in person? The talk will be available on the QSA YouTube channel after the event.

30/09/2026

Announcing Riding the First Wave, a new Queensland State Archives exhibition opening in November 2026.

Discover the stories of the first Chinese migrants who helped shape Queensland through archival records, contemporary art and descendant voices that bring a little-known chapter of our state's history to life. ✨

Featuring archival records, contemporary art and the voices of descendants, the exhibition explores journeys of migration, resilience and belonging that continue to resonate today.

Developed by historian Dr Hilda Maclean and artist Dr Pamela See, and supported by Queensland State Archives in partnership with the Harry Gentle Resource Centre, Griffith University, and descendants and community representatives, the exhibition highlights the power of archives to reveal untold stories and connect communities with their shared history.

Watch this space for more information about the exhibition! 👀

📅 Opening Thursday 5 November 2026
🔗For more information visit our website: https://bit.ly/3VWeTc8

28/09/2026

Last chance to register! 📢

Join us for the inaugural QSA Exchange webinar and discover the story behind Printed & Bound, a Queensland State Archives exhibition that explores not only the records themselves, but the stories contained within the physical objects that have preserved them through time.

This free webinar will showcase contemporary archival practice and provide insights from QSA staff involved in bringing the exhibition to life.

Can't attend live? Keep an eye on our channels for the recorded talk.

Don't miss your chance to join the conversation about contemporary archival practice. Register now for this free webinar.

📅 12-1pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026
📍 Online, via Microsoft Teams
🔗: https://bit.ly/4qXP7Qc

27/09/2026

Who Chose the Site of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement?

The relocation of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement from Redcliffe to the Brisbane River was a pivotal moment in Queensland's history. But who actually made the decision, and was it ever formally approved?

Join researcher, filmmaker and Harry Gentle Resource Centre Visiting Research Fellow Robert Braidon as he draws on archival records and historical research to uncover the people, decisions and enduring mysteries behind the founding of Brisbane.

📅 11am-12pm, Thursday 8 October 2026
📍 Queensland State Archives, 435 Compton Road, Runcorn
🎟️ Register here: https://bit.ly/4xhuMrx

24/09/2026

Schools might be out for the holidays, but this we're heading back to the classroom with some photos from Queensland's past 📚✨

From playground fun and school excursions to classroom activities and special events, these photographs capture snapshots of Queensland school life across the decades.

Take a trip down memory lane and see how school experiences, fashions and traditions have changed over time through these fascinating images from our collection.

📷 Explore our Schools Out Flickr album and discover more moments: https://bit.ly/4gznNmT

20/09/2026

One of Brisbane's biggest historical mysteries begins with a simple question...

👉 Who chose the site of the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement?

Most people know the settlement moved from Redcliffe to the Brisbane River in 1825. But who decided where it would go? Why was the move made? And could it be that the final location was never officially approved?

Join Robert Braidon for a fascinating journey through the archives as he investigates the decision that helped shape modern Brisbane.

📅 11am-12pm, Thursday 8 October 2026
📍 Queensland State Archives, 435 Compton Road, Runcorn
🎟️ Register here: https://bit.ly/4xhuMrx

Can't attend? The talk will be available on the QSA YouTube channel after the event.

18/09/2026

For generations of Queenslanders, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has been a sure sign that spring has arrived. 🌸 🌷

Starting in 1949, the carnival has grown from a local community celebration into Australia's longest-running floral festival, bringing people together through flowers, parades, gardens and cherished traditions.

As this year's carnival blooms from 18 September to 5 October 2026, we're taking a moment to celebrate the memories that make this event so special.

💐 Did you visit the carnival as a child? March in a parade? Win a prize for your garden? Or have a favourite floral display that you return to year after year?

Share your memories and photos in the comments. We'd love to hear your Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers story.

Address

435 Compton Road
Runcorn, QLD
4113

Telephone

+61730376777

Website

https://archives.qld.gov.au/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/queenslandstatearchives/albums, https://bit.ly/QSAnewsletter

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