Public Record Office Victoria

The Ballarat Heritage Festival explores the hidden treasures and untold stories of the region's history and its people. In 2024 the Festival runs from 17-26 May featuring a range of fun and informative events that promote the region's rich heritage. To celebrate, Ballarat Archives Centre staff have put together fascinating online stories of Ballarat's past including: a look at the Ballarat Municipal Observatory's history, a profile of the 'Midas Princess', and the sad tales of the collapse at Cardigan Mine and a grisly Ballarat crime.

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.

Photographs of the Geological Survey of Victoria and its various parent departments from around 1860 to 1978 are now available on our website by searching series VPRS 19731.

The photographs document mining and mining-related activities throughout Victoria, with the photographs likely used for publications, advertising and reports. Beautiful mining buildings, mineral springs, picturesque views of bushland and even portraits of tourists are scattered throughout the collection. 

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. 

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.