Research Centre

Visit a Research Centre

On This Page

• Your First Visit - Registration
• What Assistance is Available at a Research Centre?
• What Research Services Are Offered?
• What Research Services Are Not Offered?

State Records has two Research Centres. The city facility is located in the South Australian Archives Centre at 26-28 Leigh Street, in the heart of the Adelaide Central Business District. Most records may be ordered for viewing here, with twice-daily deliveries from the Gepps Cross Repository. State Records shares the City Research Centre with the Adelaide office of the National Archives of Australia (NAA).

The Gepps Cross Research Centre is located 10 km north of the Adelaide Central Business District. Free parking and a lunchroom are located on site.

Both sites have disability access.

The State Records collection is held at the Gepps Cross site. If you want to view a large number of original records and have limited time to view them, we recommend you visit the Gepps Cross Research Centre for a more efficient retrieval service and faster clearing of order limits. Some original records, because of their fragility, weight, size or format, can only be viewed at the Gepps Cross Research Centre.

Contact details, locations and opening hours may be found at the links below.

Related Information:

• Research Centres
• City Research Centre and Training Facility
• Gepps Cross Research Centre

Your First Visit - Registration

When you visit a Research Centre for the first time you will be asked to register and will receive a user ID number and card.

If you registered on-line via ArchivesSearch, please ask for a user ID card when you visit the Research Centre.

Related Information:

• How Do I Order Records?
• Introduction to ArchivesSearch

What Assistance is Available at a Research Centre?

Access to ArchivesSearch, and other guides, finding aids and indexes are available in the Research Centres. These resources should help you to identify relevant records.

State Records staff in the Research Centres can help you by:

• assisting you to search for and order records
• offering search strategies
• explaining how to use ArchivesSearch and other guides, finding aids and indexes
• advising on access restrictions
• referring you to appropriate agencies or organisations
• offering limited photocopying services.

There is no charge for this assistance, other than charges for photocopying services.

Related Information:

• How Do I Start My Research?
• Access to Official Records
• How Do I Order Records?
• Copying Services

What Research Services Are Offered?

The following research services can be offered:

• validation of personal information for rights and entitlement purposes
• guidance/advice about records that may be relevant to your enquiry (source analysis)
• confirmation of the accuracy of archival references
• copies of brochures, guides or other publications (charges may apply)
• photocopies of records, where a full and accurate reference is provided. Photocopying charges apply. Please note that preservation concerns may prevent photocopies from being made
• requests to access personal records
• requests for assistance from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent seeking access to records for family reunification purposes.

Brochure on the services provided by State Records to Aboriginal people in the spirit of Reconciliation and in recognition of their rights to access personal information held in government records. Services to Aboriginal People (61 KB PDF File)
Research advice on copyright and how it relates to records. Researchers and Copyright (46 KB PDF File)

Related Information:

• Accessing Your School Records
• Copying Services
• Using the Archives
• Aboriginal Services

What Research Services Are Not Offered?

State Records is unable to offer the following research services:

• complex, in-depth or lengthy research
• requests to view, or obtain copies of, original Births Death and Marriage records. Researchers should contact the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Office
• requests for web addresses
• requests for information that can be found in state or local libraries
• research for student assignments.

Researchers unable to attend a Research Centre, or who wish to perform complex research, will need to engage the services of a professional researcher to act on their behalf.

The Professional Historians Association (SA) Inc, the Society of Australian Genealogists or GenealogySA may offer fee-based research services.

Related Information:

• Contact Us