Community History Centre and Library Open Monday to Thursday from 10-12 and 1-4

Community History Centre
The Community History collections of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) are an important resource relating to all aspects of Tasmanian history. They document the cultural heritage of the Tasmanian community and reflect the island’s diverse and changing ways of life, with particular reference to northern Tasmania.

The collections consist of photographs, oral history tape recordings, manuscripts and a large collection of personal, organisational and business records. Minute books, financial records, correspondence and ephemera are among the types featured.

Community History Centre is open Monday to Thursday between 10 am – 4 pm. One staff member is on duty at the reference counter to assist visitors. The time staff can spend on individual enquiries is therefore limited.

Collection Guides, databases, and newscuttings files are available without appointment. However, if visitors wish to access original photographs, manuscripts and other items appointments are essential. Staff suggest contact being made at least 24 hours prior to a planned visit.

Copies of most items can be purchased. Please refer to the appropriate forms for fees and conditions.

Access to all material held by the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery is subject to standard archival restrictions. These restrictions vary according to the type of material and also take into consideration the wishes of individual donors and the condition of the material. Donated material which has not been catalogued is not generally available.

Photograph Collection
Database searches can be made by surname, proper name, town or city, photographer, type of photo, date, and Museum registration number. To date over 80,000 images have been catalogued.

Oral History Collection
This collection is available via a printed guide giving interviewee's name, subject of interview and date recorded. For most of the 850 interviews there is a synopsis or transcript. Visitors may also arrange to listen to the interviews.

Community History Series
Personal, community organisations, and business records. More than 80 collection guides are available.

Local Government
These records start from the introduction of municipal government in Launceston in 1853, and relate principally to the city and surrounding areas, e.g. Lilydale and St Leonards. See the 40 collection guides for further detail.

Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Administrative records of the QVMAG since it opened in 1891. Six collection guides are available.

Newspaper cutting files
These cuttings which relate to a wide variety of subjects are filed alphabetically. Immediate access to this collection is available via a printed guide..

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