Introduction
Getting started
What we have
Administrating agencies
Search Tools
Access
Queensland State Archives (QSA) recognises that access to government information about the Indigenous people of Australia:
The Archives is the official repository for Queensland Government records
which have been selected for permanent retention because of their continuing
value. The records are located in our office in Brisbane and are available
for public access free-of-charge in the Public Search
Room. As government agencies have managed the affairs of Indigenous Australians
over a long period of time, there is a significant amount of information that
has been created and retained.
You do not have to make an appointment. However, you should make sure that
you have the appropriate access clearance (see below) before you arrive. You
should also be aware that it will take time to search for and locate information.
Many records relating to Indigenous people are restricted, which means you
will not be able to look at them without the permission of the relevant government
agency. The section on Access will tell you how to obtain this permission.
Some agencies in the past, particularly those concerned with the administration
of Indigenous affairs, have created records containing information on specific
individuals and communities. Getting information from these records will be
fairly simple.
However, the records of other agencies have been created to document the functions
of government and their arrangement does not distinguish between Indigenous
and non-Indigenous topics. You may have to widen your search to include agencies
which you would not normally have thought of. For example the Auditor-General,
Police, Courts of Petty Sessions and the Registrar-General. Getting information
from these records will require more time. The section What we have will help
you identify these records.
Assistance is available from staff of Community and Personal Histories of the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Partnerships (Department of Communities) who have an office in the Public Search Room at QSA. The office is staffed most days,
however it is a good idea to phone on 07 3273 3949 before travelling to QSA at Runcorn. Alternatively, you may use the Freecall
number: 1800 650 230.
The main records which contain information about family and community links are those generated by DATSIPD and its predecessor agencies. The following list gives the names of previous agencies. All of these agencies will have created records which specifically relate to Indigenous people.
The publication, A guide to Queensland Government records relating to
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Records Guide Volume 1,
lists records created by the predecessor agencies of the DATSIPD. It is available
from QSA and contains good background information on the functions and responsibilities
of the agencies.
The Mackett Index provides valuable references to Indigenous matters and personal
names, and is available at QSA. There are more than 130 volumes in the series,
and a computerised version is also available.
There is also a wide range of finding aids, which describe all QSA holdings,
available in the Public Search Room and
online. Depending on the search strategy you use, you should identify
a list of records which may be useful.
QSA staff are always available to help.
A list of legislation for Queensland is available here.
Every record at QSA has been allocated an access category:
For records created by the DATSIPD and its predecessor agencies, you must
contact the Community and Personal Histories Section.
Check here for further details of the research services
provided by QSA to the public, or contact QSA
for further information.
