The State Records Office of Western Australia has the responsibility for preserving and providing access to non-current archival records created by Colonial and State Governments, as well as local authorities, in Western Australia. Records may be kept for their historical or evidential value (i.e. to satisfy an agency's legal, fiscal or administrative requirements).
The government archives collection currently comprises over 15 shelf kilometres of records and is constantly being added to. The records in the collection date back to the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829. The records themselves comprise a variety of different formats including files, volumes, maps and plans, microforms, sound recordings and electronic records.
Highlights of the Government Records Collection
Some of the more interesting collections of government records held by the State Records Office are:
Access to the Collection
With some exceptions, the records are all available to the adult public for research purposes. In the case of restricted records (restricted by the agency from which the records were obtained) permission to access any material needs to be obtained from the controlling agency.
To examine the collections you must register as a user in the State Records Office and be issued with a researcher's ticket. There are set times for retrieval of materials and it is advisable to check the State Records Office opening hours prior to your visit.