Overview
Under the Australian Archives Act 1983 most Commonwealth records are opened to public scrutiny after twenty years (this was reduced from thirty years in 2010). But the Act also defines ‘exempt’ records that can be withheld from the public for a variety of reasons, including the defence of national security, and the protection of individual privacy. Access under the Act is not an inevitable destination, but a process that may result in records with the access status of ‘closed’.
Here you can explore these closed files. Why can't we look at them? How old are they? What are we really being protected against?
14370
closed files
on 1 January 2016
28
reasons
why these files have been closed
58
years
is the average age of these files
based on their date of their earliest content
1128
series
contain closed files
BE WARNED! This is a work in progress. It's part of an ongoing research project by Tim Sherratt (@wragge). As a result, this interface is likely to change. That said, pretty much everything should work, so feel free to poke around and see what you can find. Have fun!
Here's some examples…
Series |
Control Symbol |
Title |
Contents dates |
A1838 |
169/11/52 PART 12 |
India - Relations with USSR |
1971 - 01 Jan 1800 |
B4069 |
VP/5/30 |
Programs - 3 FOX FM [4 pp] |
1980 - 1980 |
K26 |
MX26521 |
MEAKINS Athole - DVA File [WWII sern WX1103] |
1939 - 1991 |
A3092 |
221/1/4/1/1 PART 4A |
SEATO - Council |
04 Jan 1962 - 11 Nov 1962 |
C139 |
MX132799 |
Lindsay Shadwell JOY [Repatriation medical case file] [box 66232] |
1941 - 1975 |
C605 |
LA252 |
Headquarters staff - Mrs Woolfe |
1942 - 1946 |
A12812 |
167 |
Inquiry into redevelopment of Brisbane international airport, phase 1 - Statement of evidence, originating papers, correspondence, unnumbered submissions, briefing papers, tabling details |
06 May 1982 - 02 Mar 1984 |
K38 |
1987/1271 |
Conferences and meetings - boards and committees - CES [Commonwealth Employment Service] migrant services advisory committee [Department of Labour/Employment] |
1987 - 1988 |
PP904/1 |
HX21180 |
James William Guest |
1948 - 1956 |
A13014 |
F.2.1 |
Follow-up on Committee Reports - The Defence Service Homes Scheme |
May 1978 - 14 Oct 1981 |
MP16/1 |
1915/3/345 |
Dobley George Sijuan |
1915 - 1922 |
A9125 |
RECEIPT 11 |
Receipts to births registered in Port Moresby. Receipts 44851 to 44900 (Registrations 7239 to 7280) |
12 Aug 1975 - 07 Nov 1975 |
AWM98 |
R201/1/3 |
[Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (HQ AFV):] Compensation - General - Policy for claims by Vietnamese citizens |
Apr 1968 - Sep 1969 |
A4624 |
CERBERUS 31/3/1942 PART 2 |
Ships Ledger HMAS CERBERUS Quarter Ending: 31/3/1942 part 2 |
1942 - 1942 |
PP911/1 |
MX66189 |
ALLEN Harold Alderman WX11094 |
1915 - 1966 |
B73 |
H65201 |
HENDERSON, William Metcalfe [0.50 cms] |
1972 - 1976 |
E72 |
DL2567 |
Parry, William and Mary [Portion of Title Expunged] Amy |
1953 - 1953 |
B4794 |
VEITENHEIMER, ISABELLA |
[Claim for Special Benefit - Isabella Veitenheimer] |
1959 - 1964 |
M1148 |
ANTARCTIC MAPS |
Antarctic maps [maps note location of the Australian Antarctic Territory and other claims to Antarctica; includes correspondence with Allen W Dulles, Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)] |
1957 - 1968 |
A13147 |
NSR 45 |
National Security Act Regulations & Ordinances - War Legislation Laid on Table during period 14/5/40 to 21/6/40 incl, (Order of Tabling) |
14 May 1940 - 21 Jun 1940 |