What you can find in the Library

Our Australian newspaper collections include historic and modern newspapers accessible online, as well as newspapers in print and microfilm.

We collect or subscribe to:

• Australian capital city dailies, major regional city newspapers, a range of country town newspapers, newspapers published by ethnic groups and political organisations, and newspapers representing special interests.
• Digitised Australian newspapers, including the first newspaper published in Australia the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, are freely available through Trove.
• Online versions of Australian newspapers through major full-text databases such as PressReader, Newsbank: Access Global, The Sydney Morning Herald: Library Edition and The Age are available to readers with a Library login via our eResources portal.
• Australian newspapers published in languages other than English. 

How to search and find items

Search the catalogue

Learn more about how to use the catalogue

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Title search

Use a title search when you know the exact name of the newspaper.

1. Go to the catalogue
2. Select Title from the dropdown to the left of the search box.
3. Search for the newspaper title.
   • For example: The Australian
4. Use the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, such as Format and Year Range, to further refine your search.

Keyword search

Use a keyword search when you’re not sure of the exact name of the newspaper.

1. Go to the catalogue
2. Select Title from the dropdown to the left of the search box.
3. Search for keywords that you think might be in the name of the newspaper
   • For example: Advertiser
4. Use the Limit your search options on the right-hand side, such as Format and Year Range, to further refine your search.

Newspaper indexes

If you aren’t sure of a date and place to begin your search, we hold general and specific indexes to a number of Australian newspapers.

General indexes may list the broad range of topics reported on while specific indexes may just include references to birth, death and marriage notices. 

To find out if the Library holds an Index for an Australian newspaper title:

1. Search the catalogue for the newspaper title and the word ‘indexes’.
   • For example: Sydney Morning Herald indexes
2. Refine the search further by selecting Subject in the dropdown menu to the left of the search box.

The following links give you lists of state and territory newspapers and relevant indexes:

• australian newspapers new south wales
• australian newspapers northern territory
• australian newspapers queensland
• australian newspapers south australia
• australian newspapers tasmania
• australian newspapers victoria
• australian newspapers western australia

News headlines

Australian news summary : from the Herald and the Sun news-pictorial, Melbourne is a two page newspaper, ‘Published twice a week for Australians abroad,’ that gives headlines and summaries for major news items as well as local news. We hold an imperfect series of issues from 1960 to 1975. 

Where else to look

While we can help you find and access newspapers held in our collection, we do not sell original materials from our collection.

If you are looking to purchase an original issue of a newspaper, try:

• online commercial websites dedicated to trading or selling original newspapers
• second-hand or antiquarian bookstores
• online auction services. 

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and use our microform and scanning equipment but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf. 

Find out more in our Information and research services policy.

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