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.

The Library maintains a small but significant collection of Khmer language materials; it consists of publications mainly from Cambodia, plus some from the Cambodian-Australian community in Australia.

Contact form for legal deposit enquiries

The aim of this policy is to provide a clear framework to effectively manage the deaccessioning and disposal of collection material and the disposal of material not selected for the collection.

Find immigration records, shipping and passenger lists for fare-paying passengers, assisted migrants and crew members to reveal key details about your family members arrival in Australia.

We recognise that public sector information should be treated as a national resource. In support of this principle, this page assists you to better understand how we make decisions and administer programs.