Topic

The Khmer Empire flourished on the rich and fertile mountains, lakes, and plains of Cambodia for 629 years.

View historical maps overlaid on a modern map.

The Library aims to collect all of our stories so Australians can understand our past, present and place in the world.

This guide will help you find information about Commonwealth and State/Territory law, both at the National Library and online.

Legislation, also known as statutes or Acts of Parliament, is the written law made by Parliament. In any year the Parliament may vote on new Acts of Parliament to create new laws or vote to change, or amend, older Acts of Parliament. 

From 1911 until self-government in May 1989, the laws of the Australian Capital Territory were made by Acts of the federal Parliament or by ordinances made by the Governor-General. From 1974 to 1986 these ordinances were passed after consultation with the House of Assembly and Legislative Assembly.

The printed collections at the National Library contain substantial collections of older legislation in print, though these may not be complete sets. 

If you own a valuable or significant cultural work such as a painting, or a manuscript or a collection of photographs, and would like to donate them, we’d love to hear from you. Artworks, manuscripts, and collections of photographs all help to tell the history of Australia.

Who you need permission from

The Library maintains a small but significant collection of Lao language materials.