Canberra and District Historical Society Inc

Encourages the preservation of books, photographs, manuscripts, the protection and maintenance of historic places and the writing of accurate historical works, including family history.

The Society is dedicated to :

• encouraging the study of the history of Canberra and district, and of Australia in relation to it
• promoting the compilation of authentic historical records
• preserving historical material and places of historic and aesthetic interests, and to
• fostering the interchange of information through talks, discussions, excursions and exhibitions.

A lively range of activities are arranged for members, with some open also to the public. These include:

• Entertaining lectures: at the monthly meetings (on the second Tuesday of each month from February to November) at the National Archives of Australia on Queen Victoria Terrace.
• Canberra Day ceremony: events to celebrate Canberra’s birthday on 12 March each year include the annual Canberra Day Oration
• Excursions: covering places of historic interest in the ACT and district
• Publications: the highly regarded Canberra Historical Journal appears twice each year, with the Newsletter sent to members every two months. The range of books published is extensive, the most recent being Canberra’s Early Hotels and Steps to Federation both published in 2001.
• Resource centre and research services: centrally located in the demographic heart of Canberra at the Curtin Shopping Centre. Resources include books, periodicals, maps, photographs and extensive and unique files of newspaper cuttings.
• A catalogue of resources is now available online. The centre provides research services at a modest fee; inquiries welcome.
• Christmas dinner: commemorating the founding of the Society in December 1953.