Find detailed records of Federal Government processes, actions, documents, statements and commentaries in our collection.

A comprehensive collection of original records of the Federation movement plus books, pictures, music and other material related to Federation.

On 1 January 1901, the six existing self-governing British colonies of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, came together in union to create the Commonwealth of Australia.

Honorary Fellow Associate Professor Andrew Carr discussed his research on the history of Australian defence policy.

The National Library has recently digitised two letters from the collections of Enid Lyons and Dorothy Tangney.

Find key resources from federal, state, territory and local governments, explore notable collections and discover how to access materials that have shaped Australia’s political history.

Use this guide for tips and hints for finding and using Government gazettes in your research.

About 200 books and 260 pamphlets, plus personal papers and photographs mainly related to Australian history, politics, law, literature and religion from Sir Ernest Littleton Groom.

Personal papers and about 600 books and pamphlets from 1900-1960 on international relations, political biography, migration and more with a focus on the Commonwealth and United States. 

Books, pamphlets, broadsides, posters, periodicals, newspapers and some manuscripts mostly relating to Federation and political and constitutional history.

Large collection of papers from the politician William Morris Hughes including correspondence, official papers and reports, diaries, notebooks, newspaper cuttings, speeches, invitations and more.

Join us in discovering a selection of items from the Library’s collection which speak to the fascinating history of Australian diplomacy.