The official records of the administrative and academic units of the university date back to 1947, the date of foundation of the Developmental Council, which was set up by the government to establish the university. 

The records have been generated by officers of the university for the purpose of carrying out university business and document policies and decision-making within the university. These records are all State records and some are also State archives. View the UNSW Access Directions to find out more about access to UNSW's State archives.

Records consist of administrative files, management reports, official publications and campus media - annual reports, calendarshandbooks, University News, UnikenFocus, Alumni Papers - photographs, film, video and sound recordings. 

The university publications held by the Archives are wide-ranging and include whole of university material, as well as items produced by individual faculties and schools. These include guides produced about the university. Some early examples of guides are NSW Technical University (1948)Guide to the New South Wales University of Technology at Kensington (1956)Guide to the New South Wales University of Technology at Kensington (1957)Guide to the University of New South Wales at Kensington (1959)UNSW Information Booklet (c. 1960) and UNSW Information Booklet (c. 1970).

Below is a list of bodies that these records incorporate, as well as brief histories and information on some material held. For information on obtaining access to any of these records, please see the Finding & Accessing Archives page.

Have a question?

Contact the Records Team on 02 9385 2861 or email records@unsw.edu.au / Contact the Archives Team on 02 9385 2906 or email archives@unsw.edu.au

View the Online Archives Search