The Archives

The Sir Richard Kirby Archives was established in October 2002 as a means of preserving the history of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, its predecessor bodies and the Australian Industrial Registry. It is located on site in the AIRC's Melbourne Office, 11 Exhibition Street.

Named after the first and longest serving president of the Commission, Sir Richard Kirby, the archives contains a range of historical material including documents, photographs and oral history interviews.

The archives is overseen by a committee comprising members of the AIRC and a number of Registry officers. Its purpose is to preserve and maintain historical material as well as to promote a public interest in the century-long history of the Commission and the Registry. Besides developing a collection, the archives committee also oversees an exhibition program and oral history project.

Contents

It is intended that the archives' collection will include, but not be limited to: photographs; audio-visual material; speeches; transcripts; biographical information; books with historical significance; significant cases material; documents and other memorabilia relating to the Commission, its predecessor bodies and the Registry; and illustrations and cartoons.

Access

The archives is open from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday and closed on public holidays. To visit the archives it is advisable to make an appointment with the National Librarian. Please phone (03) 8661 7823.

Gifts and loans

Prospective donors are sometimes unsure how to approach an institution that would be interested in accepting their personal papers, photographs or other historical objects. If you wish to make a donation or loan to the archives please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have with the National Librarian. Issues of concern may include sorting, labelling, determining copyright and access to the items. Gifts can be made at any time to the AIRC's library in Melbourne.

Restrictions

Personal papers may contain information of a sensitive nature about individuals or organisations that the owner or donor does not want to make freely available. Restricted access, such as by reference to the donor or by a release date some time in the future, is one way to deal with this issue.

Donor inquiries

Please contact the chambers of Senior Deputy President Lacy on (03) 8661 7870.