Moreton Bay Region Libraries visit Queensland State Archives

Recently 30 members of the family and local history groups from Strathpine and Redcliffe Libraries made a full day visit at Queensland State Archives. Aside from a day of researching 16 members took the “Behind the Scenes’ tour.

Part of the “Behind the Scenes” tour includes an extensive visit to the Preservation and Conservation unit where Assistant Conservator Kristy McCullough explained the intricacies of paper conservation in our Queensland climate.

Tour participants also visited repository three which houses QSA’s oldest pre-colonial records dating from the convict period and repository one which houses the largest map and plan collection in Queensland. Archivists Susan Boulton and Saadia Thomson-Dwyer provided many interesting details about the buildings and collection.

For those members who spent a full day of research their comments said it all…

“Loved The British Royals a Queensland Story exhibition in the foyer.”
“My first visit, enjoyed the behind the scenes tour.”
“Fantastic day – staff were very helpful”

On the research side of the day, group members investigated School admission registers, maps; inquest, insolvency, intestacy and insanity records and Immigration.

Comments detail some of the finds of the day which included:

“I was able to trace my grandfather through the State Electoral Rolls as the Commonwealth Rolls end in 1954”
“Crown land sales, Bongaree 1912, file has letters that show how the name Bongaree was decided on.”
“Strathpine State School file, 2011 was the centenary of the school.  Found a lot of information about the school for its centenary.”

Niles Elvery, Manager Public Access - Queensland State Archives