The collections maintained by the Research Centre document Australian involvement in war and operational service. Additionally, these documents can provide information on the historical background, and the effects on Australian society, of the conflicts in which Australia has been involved.

While you can use the Australian War Memorial website to access the Research Centre’s digitised historic documents and records, this represents only a small proportion of the records they hold.

The Reading Room is a dedicated facility within the Memorial that provides research assistance and access to the Research Centre’s non-digitised archival material.

Contact the Research Centre with reference enquiries and for information about Reading Room services and inter-library loans, including researching the collection and your family history.

The Reading Room is open Monday to Friday 10 am-4.30 pm and Saturday 1-4.30 pm. Closed ACT public holidays.

Researchers who wish to request material must register as a client. As collections are held offsite, it may take some time to retrieve material and it is strongly recommended that you provide at least two weeks’ notice of your visit.

The Research Centre telephone enquiry service is available from 9 am until 5 pm Monday to Friday, excluding ACT public holidays.