Oral history

Black and white photo of Smoky and Dot Dawson sitting and smiling at the camera

Damian McDonald, Portrait of Smoky and Dot Dawson at the National Library, 2000, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136550848

Our Oral History and Folklore Collection dates back to the 1950’s and includes a rich and diverse collection of interviews and recordings with Australians from all walks of life.

Information article

Two men kneel before rows of candles on the ground

William Yang, The last candle, AIDS vigil [The Domain, Sydney], 1994, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136864462

Hope is strength and I’m gonna fight

Reflecting on the Australian response to AIDS Oral History Project.

Blog

A man wearing a face mask leaning against a tree that is decorated with a face mask and eyes outside the NGV in Melbourne

Leigh Henningham, A tree decorated in face mask outside the National Gallery of Victoria, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Melbourne, Victoria, 26 April 2020, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2726498492

Australian responses to COVID-19

Listen to interviews with Australian's sharing their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blog

Black and white photo of a baby koala clinging to the back of a largeer koala, who's sitting on a branch

Two koalas in a tree, 1930, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148977738

Voices of Aussie wildlife conservation

Hear from some of the people working to protect Australia's incredible wildlife.

Blog

Katherine Bennell-Pegg standing next to plant samples in a lab

Louise Whelan, Portrait of Katherine Bennell-Pegg for the Women in the space industry pictures collecting project, Adelaide, South Australia, 2024, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3445292386

Women in the Space Industry collection launched online

Explore oral histories and portraits of trailblazing Australian women working in the space industry.

News article

Jones Collection

Negatives, transparancies, photographs, books, serials, personal papers and oral history interviews related to motorcycles, races and vintage cars.

Collection guide

Hood Collection

About 240 recordings of folk music, folklore, and oral histories documenting family history, local history, work experiences, music and other arts.

Collection guide

Natasha Maimbo, a young woman of colour, standing in a mechanical engineering lab with pictures of telescopes behind her.

Celebrating women in STEM

New collection material online reveals stories of Australia’s women scientists.

Blog

A group of people at dusk standing beside small telescopes and pointing at the sky.

Philip Gostelow, Amateur astronomers gazing through telescopes into the night sky during the Murchison Astrofest, Western Australia, 17 August 2013, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-153314469

Exploring the universe: Australia’s history with astronomy

Look to the stars with stories and collections that tell Australia's role in space exploration.

Blog

Friend Collection

Explore the artistic legacy and complex history of Donald Friend through diaries, letters, and personal papers.

Collection guide

Photo of women from the dance group Bollydance Dipti in pink costumes taking a selfie in a crowd

Aishah Kenton, Bollydance Dipti dancers taking a selfie at the Indian Film Festival in Federation Square, Melbourne, Victoria, 17 August, 2024, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3428627828

Indian Diaspora in Australia documented through photography and oral histories

We asked Australians with Indian heritage to help us build our collection and these materials are now online.

News article

Black and white photo of a man listening to a recording with a pen in hand and a piece of paper next to him

Loui Seselja, Portrait of Geoffrey Dutton seated in the Oral History collection at the National Library of Australia, 1992, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151764316

Using the Oral History collection

A guide to requesting, accessing and publishing collection items in the Oral History and Folklore Collection.

Information article

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