The Archives Collection
Scope of the Collection
The archives available for research at the Northern Territory Archives Service (NTAS) all relate to the Northern Territory. Most of the archives were created within the Northern Territory.
The NTAS archives collection consists of four broad categories:
- Northern Territory Government Archives
- Personal Archives
- Archives of Organisations
- Oral History Archives
Please note that a range of access and copyright conditions apply to these categories of archives. For further information please see Conditions of Access to Archives and Copyright in Archives.
Northern Territory Government Archives
As the archival authority of the Northern Territory Government, the NTAS holds Northern Territory Government archives which have been created since the Government's establishment in 1978. The NTAS also holds archives created by the Northern Territory Government's predecessors.
From 1863 to 1910, the Northern Territory was administered by the South Australian Government. Some Territory archives created by the South Australian Government are now held at the NTAS while some remain in South Australia.
From 1911 to 1978, the Northern Territory was administered by the Commonwealth Government. Commonwealth archives relating to the functions which the Commonwealth transferred to the Northern Territory Government upon Self -Government in 1978 are now held at the NTAS.
Personal Archives
The NTAS also takes responsibility for the preservation and availability of non-government archives which it collects from the wider Territory community. These archives are deposited by a range of individuals who have been active in the Territory. Some personal archives collections date back to the 1840s.
Types of personal archives may include diaries, manuscripts, photographic prints and slides, scrapbooks, maps, letters and personal papers.
Archives of Organisations
This category includes the archives of community groups and organisations, businesses and companies, churches and missions, political parties, sporting clubs, trade unions and professional associations. Some non-government archives date back to the late 19th century.
Types of archives of organisations may include reports, minutes of meetings, correspondence, policy files, publicity material, journals, legal documents, plans and posters.
Oral History Archives
A large collection of oral history archives is also available for research. Developed by the NTAS Oral History Program, this collection includes recordings of interviews with a vast range of people about Territory life and history. Most of this material is also available for research in transcript format.
The majority of interviews have been recorded since the 1970s and feature recollections of the Territory dating back to the late 19th century.
