Oceania

Hardstaff Collection

91 charts of Australia and the Pacific produced by the British Admiralty and Hydrographic Service.

Collection guide

A sample of an emigration pass. It says 'Colonial Emigration Form, Man's Emigration Pass' with signatures and handwritten information.

Indian emigration passes to Fiji 1879 - 1916

Find out how to access over 60,000 passes issued to Indian people who came to Fiji as indentured labourers.

Research guide

A detailed historical map of Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, depicting early settlement areas, marked camps, and referenced landmarks such as gardens and marine camps. Includes a list of ship names from the First Fleet and geographical details.

Francis Fowkes, Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, in the County of Cumberland, 1789, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-230578175

Nan Kivell Collection

About 5,000 books, pamphlets and periodicals, over 11,000 paintings, drawings and prints, around 800 maps and over 300 manuscripts mostly published 1770–1900. Largely relating to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific including Antarctica.

Collection guide

First Australians

A group of men performing a traditional dance

Terence & Margaret Spencer, Independence Day Celebration (15) Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145645567

Pacific collections

The National Library holds a rich and diverse range of library materials on the Pacific region, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

Information article

Group of dancers wearing large leaves around their necks and grass skirts, standing in a circle with their arms raised

Liza Moscatelli, Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts Dancers performing in 'Motu of Western Sydney', Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool, N.S.W., April, 2022, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3180077661

Pacific Peoples of Australia Project

We want to connect with peoples of diverse Pacific and South Sea Islander heritage living in Australia.

Information article

Liza Moscatelli, Cook Island performance in Motu of Western Sydney, 2022, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3180077661

Pacific Peoples Project newsletter June 2026

Five women pose together in front of a screen displaying the 'Pasifika Film Fest 2026: Canberra' event details, with one woman wearing a traditional floral lei and another holding a blue tote bag.

(Left to Right) Myjolynne Kim Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the FSM to Australia, Her Excellency Ms Jane J Chigiyal Ambassador of the Federated States of Micronesia to Australia, Dr Eliorah Malifa Pasifika Film Festival Director, Lidwina Tutuvanu Film Director and Rebecca Fleming, Senior Advisor, National Library.

Pacific Peoples Project newsletter November 2026

painting of a ship in the background on the ocean and palm trees on an island in the foreground

George Gordon McCrae, [Sailing ship near Pacific island], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139352101

Pacific research guide

The Library holds a rich and diverse range of documentary materials relating to the Pacific region, including Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia and New Zealand.

Research guide

Whats On Dr Christina Thompson Fellowships

Part of Letter of Pomare II, King of Tahiti, 1806 (detail), nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1813553

Palapala: a story of reading, writing, and books with Dr Christina Thompson

Dr Christina Thompson presented a lecture on her 2023 Creative Arts Fellowship research into what happened when writing arrived on the islands of the Pacific.

Event

Video

Group of Papua New Guineans in traditional dress, including feathered headpieces, at the Independence Day Celebration.

Terence and Margaret Spencer, Independence Day Celebration, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145645567

Papua New Guinea: 50 years of Independence

Explore parliamentary debates relating to the Independence of Papua New Guinea.

Blog

Petherick Collection

About 15,000 books and pamphlets. The great strength of the collection is in Pacific voyages and early Australiana with many very rare items. Also manuscripts including papers of Joseph Banks, maps and pictures.

Collection guide

First Australians

A colourful watercolour showing the mountainous coastline of Tahiti. The mountains are shades of grey, blue and purple. The sky has billowing clouds.The shore is dotted with vegetation. In the foreground, two figures row a long canoe along the coast. The canoe is carrying something, although it's unclear what it is.

Nicholas Chevalier, Otaheite [i.e. Tahiti], 1868, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134623111

Polynesian expansion across the Pacific (c.700-1756)

Module

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 8 students. It adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills in investigating Asia-Pacific societies in depth.

Digital Classroom

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