Cannon Hill, Brisbane, 2004

Location

The National Archives established a presence in Brisbane in the mid-1950s, in ex-Army fibro sheds located at Perry Park. At the time, storage was the main priority, as records held by agencies were being arbitrarily destroyed as storage space ran out.

In 1963, the collection was moved to a purpose built repository at Cannon Hill, 10km east of the city. This was on a large parcel of land resumed by the Commonwealth during World War II. The repository had a capacity of about 18 shelf kilometres, with an annex to house staff and a security vault, linked by a loading dock. By 1969 a further repository holding 13 shelf kilometres was added. Further expansion through the 1970s saw a repository and reading room in Townsville, and a Brisbane city office and reading room established.

Brisbane office, 1962

The culmination of the expansion was the 1979 opening of a new building at Cannon Hill with 27 shelf kilometres of fully air-conditioned repository space. This building was on two floors and included a cold storage vault, conservation area, records processing room, an area to wash and dry flood-damaged records, microfilming rooms and dark rooms.

In 1994 half of the oldest repository was refitted to make room for the city staff and a reading room. In 1996, the Townsville office was closed and the records moved to Cannon Hill.

This brought the Cannon Hill collection to its peak volume of 53 shelf kilometres. Much of this material, however, consisted of valueless temporary records hurriedly transferred in during the 1960s. Now, after a review of the collection and a cooperative storage arrangement for semi-active Veterans’ Affairs records, the collection stands at 21 shelf kilometres.

In 2003, the Brisbane office surrendered the two oldest buildings and consolidated its collection, reading room and staff facilities into the 1979 building. After extensive renovations and refurbishment, the new facility was officially opened in February 2004 by the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Gary Hardgrave.

The collection in Brisbane

The strengths of the collection are the immigration records that date from the 1850s; the post office and mail service records and photographs that are a rich source of information for local history; and the works plans which cover everything from iconic buildings such as the General Post Office and Customs House, to defence service homes built in typical Queenslander fashion.

Brisbane

16 Corporate Drive
CANNON HILL QLD 4170
Tel: (07) 3249 4226
Fax: (07) 3399 6589
PO Box 552
CANNON HILL QLD 4170