Find of the Month

March 2026

More than a pamphlet:

ACT Government brochures in the archives

Government brochures are among the most familiar, yet fleeting records created by Government departments. Designed to inform residents, guide visitors, or promote services, these publications were intended for immediate use rather than long-term preservation. More than twenty years on, however, ACT Government brochures have become a valuable source for understanding the everyday history and even filling in the gaps of Canberra and the work of government.

Fig. 1. ACT68-91 Canberra Residential Leases - Leasing land & building homes in the ACT 1972

ArchivesACT holds an extensive collection of government brochures within Series ACT68 - A7411 - Government promotional brochures, informational booklets and leaflets produced largely between the 1970s and late 1980s. Originally created by agencies in the former Department of the Interior, Department of the Capital Territory and the Department of Territories and related bodies, the collection reflects a period of significant growth and change in the Australian Capital Territory. ArchivesACT is currently working on digitising this series for public viewing on ACT Memory.

Fig. 2. ACT68-182 Let's talk - Magpies 1981

Fig. 3. ACT68-81 Canberra - Your capital 1971

The breadth of subject matter represented in the series is striking. Items range from practical guides such as Canberra Residential Leases - Leasing land & building homes in the ACT, The new ACT government - your questions answered and Australia's Capital - Canberra - the facts, to publications addressing public safety and wellbeing, including fire prevention, and consumer protection. Others promote environmental awareness, with brochures on nature reserves, native plants, water conservation and wildlife living alongside urban Canberra. You can also find campfire recipes for children’s activities and initiatives created for youth involvement.

Fig. 4. ACT68-2 A Guide for home child minders c.1980

Fig. 5. ACT68-126 Garden flats 1984

Tourism and civic identity also feature prominently. Publications such as Canberra - Your Capital, sightseeing guides, walking and cycling tour maps, and seasonal visitor brochures reveal how Canberra was presented to newcomers, tourists and overseas visitors. These items document how the city’s landscape, institutions and cultural life were promoted, and how Canberra’s identity evolved over time.

Fig. 6. ACT68-37 Campfire tucker 1981

Beyond their informational content, these brochures capture changing approaches to government communication. Earlier examples tend to be text-heavy and formal in tone, while later publications increasingly adopt plain language, graphic design and targeted messaging.

Fig. 7. ACT68-27 Australia's Capital - Canberra - the facts 1981

Fig. 8. ACT68-44 Canberra - Street names and their origins - Aranda c.1983

For researchers, government brochures can fill gaps left by more formal records. They document short-lived programs, pilot initiatives and everyday services that may not be well represented elsewhere. They also provide insight into how policies were explained to the public and how government responded to emerging social, environmental and economic issues.

Fig. 9. ACT68-149 Guidelines to freshwater fishing in the Australian Capital Territory 1981

Fig. 10. ACT68-39 Canberra - Australia's national capital 1980

Fig. 11. ACT68-188 Let's talk - Salesmen at your door 1980

For the broader community, these materials often spark recognition and memory. A leaflet collected at a local library, a guide picked up before a family outing, or a pamphlet explaining a new regulation can evoke the lived experience of Canberra in earlier decades. In this way, brochures offer a tangible connection to the past that is both personal and communal.

Fig.12. ACT68-276 Youth involvement programme 1975‐76 1976

The preservation of ACT Government brochures in ArchivesACT highlights the importance of collecting ephemera alongside more traditional records. What was once considered disposable now provides a rich and accessible window into the history of government and daily life in the ACT, reminding us that even the smallest publications can tell enduring stories.

Fig. 13. ACT68-245 The new ACT government - your questions answered 1989

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References

ACT Memory – Series ACT68 Government promotional brochures, informational booklets and leaflets - ACT Memory Home

ACT Government records used

RTA-452 PUBLICATION - Production - Master Copies - Commonwealth Series A7411/3 - A - CAN

RTA-453 PUBLICATION - Production - Master Copies - Commonwealth Series A7411/3 - MOU - YOU

RTA-454 PUBLICATION - Production - Master Copies - Commonwealth Series A7411/3 - CAN - MOR

Images