The National Archives of Australia has scheduled a number of free exhibitions for this month, covering both physical and online venues.


A Commonwealth Railways employee and his family with items procured from the Tea and Sugar Train in the 1950s, NAA: B3119, [52]. From the ‘Camel trains to steel wheels’ exhibition in Canberra.

Opening on 24 May, Camel trains to steel wheels: life on the Trans-Australian Railway presents archival records, photos and footage that captured the events and challenges from the railway’s first 60 years, including its impact on First Nations people and the diverse workforce involved in the construction and maintenance of this vital link. It can be viewed at the National Archives of Australia office on Kings Avenue in Parkes, ACT 2600.

Perth residents can enjoy the Sea to suburbia exhibition showcasing four decades of photographs capturing the people, places and daily life of Western Australia. Its focus is upon sunny beaches, scenic suburbs, thriving industries and meandering rivers as well as images that illustrate our changing attitudes to the environment and urban development. It opens on 14 May at the Western Australian Office of the National Archives of Australia at 45 Francis Street, Northbridge WA 6003 and will run until 28 November.

The Eureka Centre Auditorium at 102 Stawell Street South, Ballarat Central will play host to an exhibition of photographs and architectural drawings from Ballarat’s colonial era. This exhibition, which opens on 20 May, is part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival, which runs from, 16-25 May.

The acclaimed Focus: Australian government photographers exhibition, which has been touring regional and suburban areas since November 2024, will go on display at the Hurstville Museum and Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville NSW 2220 from 23 May to 17 August. This fascinating exhibition delves deep into the lives and work of these talented individuals who helped to preserve our rich visual heritage, including Harry Frauca, Jocelyn Burt, Mervyn Bishop and many more.

Another touring exhibition, Reception this way: motels – a sentimental journey with Tim Ross, which revisits the classic Aussie motel, opened at the Albury Library Museum, 540 Kiewa Street, Albury, NSW 2640 on 8 March and will run until 1 June. Birds Eye View: Images from the AlburyCity Collection, an exhibition of photographs captured from the iconic Monument Hill is running concurrently and will close on 17 August.

Click here for full details of up-coming exhibitions.