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Fresh records, same incredible exhibition! ✨📜

This week, we’ve swapped over some of the records in our Printed & Bound exhibition to ensure their preservation and integrity. 🛠️📖

If you haven’t had the chance to visit yet – or if you’re keen to explore the newly displayed records – now’s the perfect time to stop by! 🌟

Printed & Bound will be here until 10 October 2026, so don’t miss your chance to experience this fascinating showcase of history and craftsmanship.

Queensland State Archives is All In for National Reconciliation Week 2026. 🤝

This year’s theme, All In, reminds us that reconciliation is not a spectator sport. It’s a call to action for all Australians to stand together and take meaningful steps toward reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. ⚫☀️🔴🔵🟢⚪

At Queensland State Archives, we’re committed to walking this journey together by:
✅ Recognising and protecting Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) in our archival collections.
✅ Adopting inclusive practices that centre First Nations perspectives.
✅ Guiding our staff on ICIP protocols to ensure respectful and ethical use of records.
✅ Strengthening partnerships with First Nations communities to enhance access to and understanding of our shared history.

Reconciliation is a collective effort that requires all of us to listen, learn, and act. Together, we can create a more united and equitable future.

Today, on National Sorry Day, we pause to reflect on Australia’s history and acknowledge the profound grief and trauma experienced by the Stolen Generations.

The first National Sorry Day in 1998 followed the release of the Bringing Them Home report, which highlighted the vital role archives play in helping people reconnect with their histories. At Queensland State Archives, we are committed providing access to records that can help individuals uncover their family stories, traditional place names, and connections to language groups.

While these records are invaluable, they can also be distressing, as they often contain personal and culturally sensitive information or language that reflects outdated and offensive views. If you are considering researching your family history, we encourage you to approach these materials with care.

If you are looking to explore your family history and find your mob, learn how to use ArchivesSearch to find records that matter to you via the video linked in our bio.

📢 Join us for our next #QSATalk!

Discover the untold stories of St Helena Island in ‘Warders, wives and children – The families of St Helena Penal Establishment’, presented by researcher and Harry Gentle Visiting Research Fellow, Belinda Daly.

While St Helena Penal Establishment is known as an all-male prison, women and children also lived on the island between 1867 and 1932 as part of the warders’ families. Belinda’s research shines a light on their lives, challenges, and contributions, restoring them to the historical narrative for the first time.

Learn how 47 families overcame isolation, class, and gender barriers to build a vibrant community on the island.

📆Thursday 25 June 2026
⏰ 11.00am–12.30pm
📍Queensland State Archives, Runcorn
🔗Register via the link in our bio!

Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌟

From 18 to 24 May we’re celebrating National Volunteer Week, Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme, Your Year to Volunteer, honours the incredible contributions of volunteers and inspires others to get involved in ways that work for them.

Here at Queensland State Archives, we are so fortunate to have an amazing team of volunteers who help us preserve Queensland’s history, enhance our records, and improve access to our collection.

To our volunteers: thank you for your dedication, passion, and hard work. You make a lasting difference, and we are so grateful for everything you do to keep Queensland’s records alive and connected to all of us.

Would you like to volunteer and rewrite history, or at least transcribe it? Jump over to the From the Page site, where you can help transcribe Queensland’s historical records via the link in our bio!
👏🩷

#OnThisDay in 1867, history was made on St Helena Island! 🏝️🔒

Over 150 years ago, the first prisoners arrived at the isolated St Helena Island Penal Establishment, a fortress surrounded by the treacherous waters of Moreton Bay. Despite its remote location and fortified walls, that didn’t stop daring prisoners from attempting bold escapes! 🛶🏃‍♂️

Want to uncover the fascinating stories of this historic island? Dive into its rich past and explore the buildings, plans, and photographs that bring its history to life via the links in our bio! 📖

Discover Queensland State Archive’s “Little Album of Horrors”! 🌿✨

At first glance, they’re stunning works of art - vivid watercolours of delicate flowers and marine life. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a fascinating (and dangerous!) side to Queensland’s natural beauty.

Dive into the story of Estelle Thomson, a talented artist and naturalist whose intricate illustrations of poisonous plants and marine molluscs were once used to educate medical students. Her Register of Drawings of Poisonous Plants of Queensland is a rare gem that blends art, science, and history in a way that’s as captivating as it is educational.

📖 Read the full blog post and explore this unique collection at QSA via the link in our bio! 🥀

Discover Queensland State Archive’s “Little Album of Horrors”! 🌿✨

At first glance, they’re stunning works of art - vivid watercolours of delicate flowers and marine life. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a fascinating (and dangerous!) side to Queensland’s natural beauty.

Dive into the story of Estelle Thomson, a talented artist and naturalist whose intricate illustrations of poisonous plants and marine molluscs were once used to educate medical students. Her Register of Drawings of Poisonous Plants of Queensland is a rare gem that blends art, science, and history in a way that’s as captivating as it is educational.

📖 Read the full blog post and explore this unique collection at QSA via the link in our bio! 🥀

Discover Queensland State Archive’s “Little Album of Horrors”! 🌿✨

At first glance, they’re stunning works of art - vivid watercolours of delicate flowers and marine life. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a fascinating (and dangerous!) side to Queensland’s natural beauty.

Dive into the story of Estelle Thomson, a talented artist and naturalist whose intricate illustrations of poisonous plants and marine molluscs were once used to educate medical students. Her Register of Drawings of Poisonous Plants of Queensland is a rare gem that blends art, science, and history in a way that’s as captivating as it is educational.

📖 Read the full blog post and explore this unique collection at QSA via the link in our bio! 🥀

Discover Queensland State Archive’s “Little Album of Horrors”! 🌿✨

At first glance, they’re stunning works of art - vivid watercolours of delicate flowers and marine life. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a fascinating (and dangerous!) side to Queensland’s natural beauty.

Dive into the story of Estelle Thomson, a talented artist and naturalist whose intricate illustrations of poisonous plants and marine molluscs were once used to educate medical students. Her Register of Drawings of Poisonous Plants of Queensland is a rare gem that blends art, science, and history in a way that’s as captivating as it is educational.

📖 Read the full blog post and explore this unique collection at QSA via the link in our bio! 🥀

Discover Queensland State Archive’s “Little Album of Horrors”! 🌿✨

At first glance, they’re stunning works of art - vivid watercolours of delicate flowers and marine life. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a fascinating (and dangerous!) side to Queensland’s natural beauty.

Dive into the story of Estelle Thomson, a talented artist and naturalist whose intricate illustrations of poisonous plants and marine molluscs were once used to educate medical students. Her Register of Drawings of Poisonous Plants of Queensland is a rare gem that blends art, science, and history in a way that’s as captivating as it is educational.

📖 Read the full blog post and explore this unique collection at QSA via the link in our bio! 🥀

Discover Queensland State Archive’s “Little Album of Horrors”! 🌿✨

At first glance, they’re stunning works of art - vivid watercolours of delicate flowers and marine life. But look closer, and you’ll uncover a fascinating (and dangerous!) side to Queensland’s natural beauty.

Dive into the story of Estelle Thomson, a talented artist and naturalist whose intricate illustrations of poisonous plants and marine molluscs were once used to educate medical students. Her Register of Drawings of Poisonous Plants of Queensland is a rare gem that blends art, science, and history in a way that’s as captivating as it is educational.

📖 Read the full blog post and explore this unique collection at QSA via the link in our bio! 🥀

In honour of National Dinosaur Day and Queensland Dinosaur Week, step back in time with this incredible photo from Queensland Museum’s past! 📸✨

This fascinating archival photo features @Qldmuseum seum when it was located at the Exhibition Building in Bowen Hills. Captured just a year before the museum made its big move to South Bank’s Cultural Centre, this image offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in Queensland’s cultural history.

If you look closely, you’ll spot the life-size replicas of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops – shipped all the way from New York in the late 1970s! These iconic dinosaurs have since become beloved fixtures of the museum, standing guard and sparking the imaginations of visitors for decades. 🦖🦕

Attendees at the QSA Water Marbling Workshop last month left with some incredible creations. 💫

Hosted by the talented @RaynbowCrowStudios Studios as part of our Printed & Bound exhibition, this workshop was vibrant, colourful and lots of fun! 🎨

From learning the fascinating history of this mesmerising art form to creating their own stunning masterpieces, our attendees truly let their creativity flow. Just look at those swirls and patterns! 😍🖼️

Want to join us for our next creative workshop? Don’t miss out! Stay in the loop by subscribing to our newsletter via the link in our bio!

📽️ Check out the reel to see the magic in action!

This #FlashbackFriday we are celebrating the sweet fruits of history as the Granite Belt wraps up another harvest season! 🍎🍇

Did you know the region’s first apples and grapes were planted way back in the late 1850s? Talk about a fruitful legacy! ✨

No trip to the region is complete without indulging in local delights at cosy cafés, charming wineries, delis, and top-notch restaurants - it’s the perfect way to savour the region’s produce.

And here’s another juicy fact for you: Stanthorpe is home to all of Queensland’s apple crop! 🍏🍎

This #FlashbackFriday we are celebrating the sweet fruits of history as the Granite Belt wraps up another harvest season! 🍎🍇

Did you know the region’s first apples and grapes were planted way back in the late 1850s? Talk about a fruitful legacy! ✨

No trip to the region is complete without indulging in local delights at cosy cafés, charming wineries, delis, and top-notch restaurants - it’s the perfect way to savour the region’s produce.

And here’s another juicy fact for you: Stanthorpe is home to all of Queensland’s apple crop! 🍏🍎

This #FlashbackFriday we are celebrating the sweet fruits of history as the Granite Belt wraps up another harvest season! 🍎🍇

Did you know the region’s first apples and grapes were planted way back in the late 1850s? Talk about a fruitful legacy! ✨

No trip to the region is complete without indulging in local delights at cosy cafés, charming wineries, delis, and top-notch restaurants - it’s the perfect way to savour the region’s produce.

And here’s another juicy fact for you: Stanthorpe is home to all of Queensland’s apple crop! 🍏🍎

This #FlashbackFriday we are celebrating the sweet fruits of history as the Granite Belt wraps up another harvest season! 🍎🍇

Did you know the region’s first apples and grapes were planted way back in the late 1850s? Talk about a fruitful legacy! ✨

No trip to the region is complete without indulging in local delights at cosy cafés, charming wineries, delis, and top-notch restaurants - it’s the perfect way to savour the region’s produce.

And here’s another juicy fact for you: Stanthorpe is home to all of Queensland’s apple crop! 🍏🍎

Lest we forget.

Anzac Day is held annually on 25 April to honour the service and sacrifice of all who have served, past and present.

Pictured here is Anzac War Memorial Park in Townsville from 1994.

We will remember them.

#ANZACDay

Have you discovered one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets yet? ✨🕵️‍♀️

📌Welcome to QSA’s Reading Room at Runcorn!

Whether you’re a history buff, researching pro, or want to discover more about your family history, our doors are wide open for you.

Here’s what you can do when you visit:
📜Explore original records
📸Make your own copies, using your phone or camera
🗣️Chat with our friendly archivists
🤝Get access to Ancestry.com for free
🖥️Use our computers to dig deeper into your research

We are open Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm, and the second Saturday of each month. We would love to see you here! 📆

Have you discovered one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets yet? ✨🕵️‍♀️

📌Welcome to QSA’s Reading Room at Runcorn!

Whether you’re a history buff, researching pro, or want to discover more about your family history, our doors are wide open for you.

Here’s what you can do when you visit:
📜Explore original records
📸Make your own copies, using your phone or camera
🗣️Chat with our friendly archivists
🤝Get access to Ancestry.com for free
🖥️Use our computers to dig deeper into your research

We are open Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm, and the second Saturday of each month. We would love to see you here! 📆