Arts, sport & collectionsAgencyExists today
National Archives of Australia
NAA
1998 – present
Previously Australian Archives (1974–1998).
The Commonwealth's archival authority, which keeps and provides public access to records of enduring value created by Commonwealth agencies and sets information management standards for government.
Names over time
- Archives Division, Commonwealth National Library1952–1961
- Commonwealth Archives Office1961–1974
- Australian Archives1974–1998
- National Archives of Australia1998–present
How it came into existence
Australian Archives was renamed the National Archives of Australia in 1998, continuing under the Archives Act 1983.
Legislation: Archives Act 1983
Main functions
- custody of Commonwealth records of enduring value
- public access to records under the Archives Act
- authorisation of records disposal
- information management standards for agencies
- exhibitions and public programs
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Accountable authority
- The Director-General – Archives Act 1983 section 5(1A)(b)
- ABN
- 36 889 228 992
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))