How to use our archives collection

Our archives hold items from as early as 1842 when the Municipal Council of Sydney was established.

We’re responsible for managing, preserving and providing access to more than 1 million items including:

• documents
• photographs
• maps
• plans
• data.

The collection consists of:

• our corporate archives
• items collected from the community relating to our local area
• published reference material.

Our archive collection management policy, now being developed, will provide more information about our collection.

The civic collection comprises items of movable cultural heritage that document our civic identity as it’s expressed through historical, contemporary and emerging traditions and creative practices.

The collection includes:

• historical and contemporary civic portraits, historical and contemporary works of art in traditional and diverse media including artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• furnishings that reflect the working requirements of a functioning council and interpret key phases of the historical development of our buildings, particularly Sydney Town Hall
• historical items and memorabilia associated with the civic history and our responsibilities, including official gifts, plaques, memorials and insignia.

The curatorial management of the collection is directed towards acquiring, preserving and interpreting the following categories of items:

• 2D and 3D artworks, and digital media that reflect the cultural diversity of our communities
• furnishings that have significance to our properties, including Sydney Town Hall
• historical items relating specifically to us in its civic administrative and ceremonial role.

The civic collection is guided by our civic collection curatorial policy and guidelines.