The Victorian Archives Centre and Public Records Office offers a free guided tour of the archives once a month - bookings required.
(No photography allowed)
We checked our belongings at the front desk and our tour guide, Leigh, led us through the Reading Room and down into the repository.
I felt a little like Agent 99 from Get Smart as we stepped into the air locked entrance to the archives. The doors closed behind us and re-opened into a huge room, with rows and rows of archiving storage units filling the vast space. No sign of KAOS or chaos here...
The hour flew by, as we wandered up and down the rows, stopping to look at documents, art, artefacts and furniture. We heard fascinating stories behind some of the items and learned of methods used to digitise files and restore water damaged documents.
Once the tour was finished, I checked out the current exhibition in the foyer, Transporting Art. From 1978 to 1993, 36 artists such as Mirka Mora, Clifton Pugh, Michael Leunig and Mental as Anything each transformed a Melbourne W Class tram into a work of art. Images of these works adorn the walls, as well as a photographic display of the history of our trams.
Records can be accessed by the public, for projects, family history, etc. See the PRO website for more details and they hold information sessions on a regular basis. You can also volunteer to assist at the Centre.
Where: 99 Shiel St, North Melbourne
99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne
When: Mon - Friday 10am - 4:30pm. Second and last Saturday of each month.
Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm
Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm
Monday
to Friday 10.00am to 4.30pm (excluding public holidays) and the second
and last Saturday of every month. - See more at:
http://prov.vic.gov.au/visiting-us#sthash.lrTejqnp.dpuf
Why: history, research, family tree
How Much: FREE
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