Using the Pictures Collection

Finding pictures

Search our catalogue - most pictures material is described in our catalogue.
Tip: Narrow your search to only pictures by selecting the 'Pictures' format filter.
Visit the Special Collections Reading Room to view original material.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Landscape watercolour showing trees, hilly, grass covered terrain, few small buildings and a mountain in the distance

H. M. Rolland, Canberra, view from Camp Hill looking towards St. John' s Church, Mt. Ainslie in the distance, 1924, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135217175

A small frog is hanging from a twig. The frog is showing its belly, which is white. It's legs are orange. It is spread-eagle as all of its legs are attached to different branches of the twig.

Dombrovskis, Peter, 1945-1996. (1969). Litoria burrowsae, Mount Wellington, Tasmania, 1969? [transparency] / Peter Dombrovskis. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151417897

A high aerial shot of a flooded landscape. Creeks and rivers have ofter flowed.

Taylor, Peter, 1936-. (1983). Channel country in south-west Queensland in flood, Nappa Merrie Station, Cooper Creek, August 1983 [picture] / [Peter Taylor]. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147618690

Image of a colour sketch of a heavily snow covered town of Hobart houses with water and mountains in the background in 1882

H.J. Graham, Severe snow storm over Hobart, 1882, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-135529606

J.C. Williamson, Costume design for Guest 8 from a J.C. Williamson production, 1875, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139011985

Watercolour painting of Banksia bush and flowers

Ellis Rowan, Banksia serrata L.f. (1782), family Proteaceae, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138824614

Using the collection

Some material may have access restrictions and may require permission to view. Check the catalogue record or contact us before your visit.
Request material to view by logging into the catalogue and submitting an online request. See our collection delivery service and Getting started with the Catalogue for more information.
When ready, material will be available to view in the Special Collections Reading Room.

Special storage conditions

Material such as negatives, slides, glass plates and colour prints are held in special storage areas for their preservation. These are fragile and require an acclimatisation period before being delivered for use. We may ask you to use a digital or print version of the image instead. Please contact us one week before your visit to discuss your request for these materials.

Collections not fully arranged and described

Some Pictures collections are not fully arranged and described and so may need time to make ready before they can be used. These are described as ‘Pictures retrospective arrears’ on the catalogue record. For these collections please contact us 4 weeks before your visit to discuss your request and allow time for material to be prepared for use.

Getting a copy for study or research

Find the item record in the catalogue.
If the item has been digitised you will be able to see a thumbnail on the catalogue record.
Select the thumbnail and you can then print or download a low resolution (72 dpi) copy.

Digital cameras can be used where access conditions allow and you agree to comply with the Copyright Act and correct care and handling of material guidelines.

Getting a high resolution copy

Find the item record in the catalogue.
Select the 'Order a copy' tab at the bottom of the catalogue record.
Click on 'Add to cart' to open the online order form.
Follow the instructions provided by the Copies Direct service.

We will advise you if you need to contact a copyright owner for permissions.

We will alert you to any other responsibilities when the copy is supplied.

Tip

Check these pages for more information on:

Publishing pictures from our collection

Note that not all images (both in and out of copyright) on our website are freely available for public use. In many cases the National Library has been granted permission by the creator to display images for research and study only. If you wish to use an image for a purpose other than research and study, please fill in our Intention to Publish form.

Images in the Fairfax archive of glass plate negatives are out of copyright however Fairfax has granted the National Library of Australia a licence only to use, reproduce, communicate, publish, modify, adapt and exploit these images for non-commercial purposes. You may save or print the online images for research and study; private or domestic use only. If you wish to use them for any other purpose, please submit an Intention to Publish form.

To order a high resolution electronic copy or print of a Fairfax image for research and study; private or domestic use, place an order through Copies Direct. To order or license a copy for publication or commercial purposes please order directly via the Fairfax Syndication website.

For more information, see: How to tell the Library you intend to publish a copy of a collection item.