Public Record Office Victoria

Congratulations to Tahlia Palmer, our inaugural Creative in Residence recipient, at the Victorian Archives Centre! Following a competitive judging process of more than 70 applications from artists, musicians and writers across the state, Tahlia has begun working with PROV’s map and photographic collections to explore identity and perception, and interrogate the impact of colonisation on people and Country. Stay tuned for updates on her project and upcoming exhibition.

The 2023-24 issue of our online Provenance journal is now online! This issue includes eight original articles based on research of Victorian archival collections. These articles draw on a wide range of government records relating to urban planning, land surveying and management, child welfare and the court system, weights and measures administration, and the administration of local government rates. Explore articles including 'Wayward', 'immoral' and evil' dispelling myths about Brookside Reformatory girls by Erica Cervini, Tracing ancestral voices by Kendrea Rhodes and City views by Andrew J May. 

The Boîte is Victoria's iconic multicultural music organisation. Their archival collection consists of posters, audio tapes, film footage and photographs that tell the story of the organisation, right back to its earliest days in the 1970s. Learn about their history project, funded by a Local History Grant and awarded a Victorian Community History Award in 2020. 

In this award-winning podcast series by Public Record Office Victoria we interview the people who delve into public archives and uncover interesting truths about Melbourne and Victoria's past. Hear about the amazing monuments that were never built, Victoria's queer history, Pentridge Prison escapes, how Melbourne went from deadtown to musictown and more!

Stay up to date with the latest records and interesting stories uncovered from the collection. This blog will offer you a snapshot into the world of historical research featuring the extraordinary tales of Victorian people captured within Victorian Government archives.

Personal information is at risk when agencies do not have an effective disposal program in place and continue to hold public records for longer than the required minimum legal retention period. See our advice for managing personal information in records.