Government and politics | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Government and politics

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A picture of Queen Victoria at the House of Lords to open the first Parliament of her reign

C. E Wagstaff & George Baxter, (1841), The arrival of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria at the House of Lords to open the first Parliament of her reign, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136108572

British Parliament research guide

British Parliamentary publications are valuable primary sources for research into British and dominion history, including Australia.

Research guide
Collection guide
British Radical Pamphlets

Over 3,000 printed pamphlets, leaflets and issues of periodicals, mostly published 1900-1970, plus a collection of microfiche and microfilm of other publications, produced by left-wing parties and organisations in the period 1961–88.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Cameron Collection

Papers related to Clyde Cameron's long political career, and 12 oral history recordings conducted by Cameron with other political figures.

Collection guide
Various ephemera relating to Australian federal election campaigns spread over a black background

Ephemera relating to the Australian federal election campaigns

Capturing the Australian democracy story

We’re calling on all Australians to help us build the next chapter of Australia’s political history by collecting ephemera from the 2025 federal election.

Information article
Collection guide
Deakin Collection

The Deakin Collection includes personal papers, photographs and memorabilia documenting Alfred Deakin’s political career and legacy as a key architect of Federation.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Deane Collection

The Deane Collection features 70 original caricatures and cartoons of federal politicians from 1915 to 1925, assembled by public servant and arts patron Percy Deane.

Collection guide
A torn buff coloured page with the words 'Draft of A Bill to Constitute the Commonwealth of Australia', with handwritten notes at the top and bottom of the page.

Sir Edmund Barton, Papers of Sir Edmund Barton, 1827-1940, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-225140407

Documenting Federation

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: HASS for Year 6 students.

Digital Classroom
Collection guide
Dryer Collection

The Dryer Collection includes 2286 titles, mainly monographs but also including manuscripts and music material about the history of Ireland and Australia.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Dutch Pamphlet Collections

Two collections of pamphlets published in the Netherlands from 1567-1852 dealing with political, diplomatic, military and legal matters, and the administration of the Batavian Republic.

Collection guide
Two newspaper front covers in a display case. The headline on both reads, 'Vietnam waifs fly in'.
Elaine Moir: ‘The waif smuggler’ during the Vietnam War

Exploring 1975: The Vietnam War and Operation Babylift

Blog
People standing, sitting at desks, and filming with news cameras in a brightly lit room

Mark Arundel, National Tally Room as seen from the second floor of the tally board during the Australian Federal Elections, Canberra, 24 November 2007, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148469746

Elections and referendums

Elections and referendums are key turning points in Australia’s political history.

Research guide
A bold poster with stacked red text in different fonts reads: COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, REFERENDUM, 1916 (MILITARY SERVICE), POLLING: SATURDAY, 28th October, 1916, Commonwealth Electoral Rolls close Monday, 18th Sept., 1916  ARE YOU CORRECTLY ENROLLED for the Electoral Subdivision for which you are entitled to be enrolled? Qualified persons who fail to enrol are liable to a PENALTY OF TWO POUNDS. J. G. McLAREN, Commonwealth Electoral Officer for the State of New South Wales. Sydney, 5th September, 1916.

McLaren, J. G and Commonwealth Electoral Office (Australia) issuing body, Referendum, 1916 (military service) : are you correctly enrolled for the electoral subdivision for which you are entitled to be enrolled? Sydney, 1916, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-348412875

Electoral rolls research guide

Find out how to use electoral rolls to locate your family members or other peoples location or addresses over the years and who was living with them.

Research guide

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