Event: Open Day at the Western Sydney Records Centre

Get ready to explore the treasures of Museums of History NSW at their upcoming open day.

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On Saturday April 15th 2023, come and see historical collections up close, hear from experts on a range of fascinating topics, take a behind-the-scenes tour and relax with good food and coffee in a unique environment.

The heart of the state archives will be open to the public at Western Sydney Records Centre, Kingswood, Darug Country. This is a rare opportunity to step inside and discover the largest collection of records relating to the history of NSW and the lives of its people.

 

 

Drop-in tours
Guided tours will take you on a journey through the extensive storage areas and the Conservation Lab and introduce you to the publicly accessible Reading Room.
Staff will be on-site to direct you to the tour meeting point when you arrive.

 

Expert talks
An in-depth series of talks throughout the day will provide valuable insights into the stories within the collection, how to undertake your own research and offer an opportunity to ask an archivist your questions.

Note: Bookings are available for each talk below. There will be limited spaces offered on the day for walk-ups. Please see staff on arrival to find out more.

 

Stallholders 

Come and say hello to the many stallholders who will be present on the day; Ancestry, Australian Railway Historical Society, City of Sydney, Dutch Australian Genealogy Group, Hawkesbury Library Service & Family History Group, National Archives of Australia, Nepean Family History Society, Penrith City Library, Penrith Museum of Printing, Royal Australian Historical Society, Society of Australian Genealogists.

 

 

— Program | 15th April —

 

10.30am–11am

ARHSNSW – A nationally significant collection of railway-related information

Craig Mackey and James Dalton, Australian Railway Historical Society

 

11.15am–11.45am

Nosey Bob in the State Archives: The story of a noseless hangman

Rachel Franks, State Library of NSW

 

12pm–12.30pm

Printing and photography: Images from the NSW Government Printing Office

Kim Tao, Museums of History NSW

 

12.45pm–1.15pm

WWII records digitisation

Rachel Cullen, National Archives of Australia

 

1.30pm–2pm

Posters and programmes by the score!

Scott Hill, Museums of History NSW

 

2.15pm–2.45pm

Petitions in the City of Sydney Archives

Janet Villata, City of Sydney

 

3pm–3.30pm

Using Ancestry.com to access the States Archives Collection

Pauline Weeks, Ancestry

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Hurry along and register for the excellent talks listed above – they’re booking out extremely quick! If you miss out on a talk , don’t fret, you can catch the presenters at their stalls throughout the day.

 

Jason Reeve
Head of Content & Community