Behind the Scenes Tour

Let the knowledgeable staff at Public Record Office Victoria and the National Archives of Australia take you behind the scenes and into the heart of the Victorian Archives Centre, the archival repository.

Beyond the airlocked doors, in a carefully maintained dust-free and climate-controlled environment, there are over 100 kilometres of significant records dating back to 1836. Here you'll learn how records are selected and preserved, and take a peek inside the drawers, boxes and cabinets.

Historic records from both collections will be on display, bringing to light the narratives contained within the many maps, plans, images and documents. From love letters used in a criminal trial to snap shots taken by government photographers, delve into the people and places captured in the archives, including the stories of those marginalised by history’s selective memory. Tours take place from 10am to 3pm, every half an hour in groups of 25.