Open by appointment only Tuesday to Thursday.

There are 2 sessions each day:

  • 9:30am to 12:30pm
  • 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

To ensure the well-being of yourself, staff and other customers, we will not be providing face-to-face assistance with your research.

Instructions are provided to assist with accessing computers, cameras and scanners and customers will be provided with disinfectant wipes to clean computer stations after use.

Staff will be maintaining a safe social distance of at least 1.5 metres from others at all times and we ask that visitors to the Research Centre do the same. Social distancing barriers are in place at the Archivist desk.

Appointments

Please book an appointment to visit our Research Centre to:

  • view original records
  • use our research tools such as microfilm machines
  • use our search computers
  • use our printed reference collection
  • records you wish to view must be pre-ordered at least 24 hours in advance of your visit.

You will not be able to order records for same-day viewing.

Plan Your Visit to make efficient use of your research time and to determine if you need to visit in person.

  • Research Centre staff are not able to assist you if you arrive without a prior booking and only customers with bookings can enter the Research Centre.

Book an appointment online using Eventbrite or phone us on 08 7322 7077.

  • We are open Tuesday to Thursday for 2 sessions each day.
  • Session times are 9:30am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
  • Researcher numbers in our reading room area are capped at 7 people per session to allow for social distancing.
  • Records must be pre-ordered before your visit.
  • Records can not be ordered while you are at the Research Centre.

Research Centre Frequently Asked Questions

The Research Centre is open by appointment only. Appointments can be booked online through Eventbrite. Bookings are limited each day..

Make sure to Plan Your Visit and pre-orrder the records you would like to view.

Records you wish to order can be emailed to us once an online booking is made. Once you have booked an appointment, instructions are provided on how to email your order.

Full and accurate references are required when sending an order and orders must be submitted at least 24 hours before an appointment.

You should first try and identify the records you wish to view. Information about our records can be found:

Once you have found the records you wish to view during your appointment, note the specific reference (e.g. GRS 1334/1 Unit 38 File 3296 OR GRG1/42 Unit 1) and provide this to us so we can pre-order your records.

If you require help to identify records for viewing please contact us.

A maximum of 10 records can be ordered for an appointment.

Yes, you may book into both sessions on a day.

Appointments can be booked up to two weeks in advance.

If you intend to visit with another person, that person must also be booked in for an appointment. Visitors are not permitted entry without a prior booking.

No. Records must be pre-ordered at least 24 hours in advance of your visit. You will not be able to order records for same-day viewing while in the Research Centre.

To ensure the wellbeing of yourself, staff and other customers, we will not be providing face-to-face assistance. Instructions are provided to assist with accessing computers, cameras and scanners. Staff will be maintaining a safe social distance of at least 1.5 metres from others at all times and we ask that visitors to the Research Centre do the same.

Yes, you can use the search computers, microfilm and printed reference collection. Please book an appointment to use the search tools, even if you are not viewing original records.

Yes, if you want to photograph a record in the Research Centre you can photograph it with your own camera or phone or use one of the devices in our Research Centre to take a copy.

Remember to bring a USB flash drive if you would like to use our devices so you can save a copy for yourself.

You can bring notepads, computers, cameras, phones, pencils.

You cannot bring in pens, bags, food and drinks (including water). Lockers are available to place your belongings. Our small kitchen has hot and cold water as well as a small fridge and microwave.

We have a digitisation service which can provide you with a high quality digital copy of a record for a cost.
We will ask you to identify the pages you would like copied, and we will then email you a quote which can be paid online.

State Records does not offer a research service and does not view original records on behalf of a researcher.

These fee-based research services are available:

These fee-based research services are not State Records employees.

Your local library or history group may also be able to help with your research or provide you with access to some family history resources.

  • Customers will be asked screening questions when entering the Research Centre.
  • Customers will be asked to ensure they have clean and dry hands before entering the Research Centre. Hand washing facilities and sanitising stations are provided to use before entering the Research Centre.
  • Bathrooms will be well stocked with hand soap and paper towels, and instructions on how to wash hands properly will be provided.
  • All hard surfaces in the Research Centre will be thoroughly cleaned between sessions.
  • All researchers will be required to sit 1.5 metres from each other, as per government guidelines on social distancing.

Contact information from your State Records user registration and your appointment booking may be used for tracing purposes after your visit, should a COVID-19 case in the Research Centre be reported.

You will not be able to enter the Research Centre with any of these symptoms.
Please phone us to reschedule your booking to a later date. We can hold your pre-ordered records for up to 4 weeks.

Yes, the public cafe is open during session times, with water, coffee and tea available. The public cafe is not open outside of session times.

Yes, lockers are available to use for your personal belongings.

Please bring your own pencils and note paper.  We can supply some if needed.

Getting to the Research Centre

Find us at 115 Cavan Rd, Gepps Cross, 5094.

Telephone 08 7322 7077.

Map location 115 Cavan Road Gepps Cross

Our Research Centre offers some assistance for people with a disability.

Free parking is available at our Research Centre.

There are no buses that travel directly from the CBD to a stop near our Research Centre,
if you connect routes you can reach a bus stop within a few minute’s walking distance.

Catch any of the following buses from King William St and get off at stop 25, Main North Road, Gepps Cross.

From stop 25 either take a 20 minute walk to the State Records’ Research Centre or catch the 225 bus or the 255F bus and get off at stop 28, Port Wakefield Road (just outside Stratco).
State Records is around the corner on Cavan Road.
Bus 225 only runs every 30 minutes to an hour, so time your connection to suit.

To travel back to the CBD, reverse the process.

Page last updated: 7 September 2022