Posters have been used for well over a century as an inexpensive, eye-catching and easily distributed way of selling a product or policy, promoting awareness, reminding people to do something, and encouraging certain kinds of behaviour. They are vivid, immediate and evocative.
The Commonwealth government was quick to realise the value of posters as a communications tool. Some of the earliest posters were those created by the Chief Electoral Officer to remind Australian electors to vote and to instruct them how to cast a legal ballot. Since then the Commonwealth has used posters to encourage people to do all manner of things including to:
- buy bonds
- visit Australian tourist attractions
- celebrate centenaries
- conserve water
- enlist in the armed forces
- understand and use decimal currency
- immunise their children; and
- drive safely.
The National Archives' collection contains posters produced by the Commonwealth for all of these purposes and more. We also hold some posters published by State governments, private enterprise and by governments overseas. The tables that follow provide you with a glimpse of the range of material in our collection.
Selected subject list of posters
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II – commemorative posters | 1977 | A5918 |
| Bicentennial collection publications | 1987–89 | C2749 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Beaufort Division posters | 1939–45 | MP1472/1, 22 PART 1 |
| Camouflage posters | 1940–44 | MP222/2 |
| Careless talk costs lives [colour] | 1940–41 | SP112/1, 426/4/2 |
| Copies of "salvage" pamphlets | 1942–45 | MP15/8, NN |
| History of Commonwealth Rationing Commission | 1943–50 | B5641 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Outline [educational posters, colour] | 1949–56 | C3179 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Election of Queensland Members of House of Representatives – Arrangements for Polling [b&w] | 1901 | A6, 1901/394 |
| Political party election material donated to Archives (about 1975 & 1977 Federal elections) | 1972–77 | C947 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Hall poster [colour] | 1886 | A1786, 2776B |
| The Wonderful Performing Fleas [colour] | 1889 | A1786, 4029B |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Week [colour] | 1920 | A1861, 4439 |
| Mosquitoes [NSW Government poster, b&w] | 1928 | A1, 1928/5982 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| £10 Reward £10 [offered for information leading to arrest of prohibited Chinese immigrants, b&w] | 1913–18 | A2455,1 |
| The call of the stars to British people [colour] | 1928 | CP211/2, 68/106 |
| Australia – land of tomorrow [colour] | 1949–51 | A434, 1949/3/21685 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Post Office posters | 1963–88 | C3960 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Posters and photographs | 1941–84 | C2829 |
| Join the Girls Training Corps [British, colour] | 1942–44 | A705, 151/30/120 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Madame Dean's Spinal Supporting Corset [b&w] | 1890 | A1786, 4378B |
| Emmerson and Companies Sale [colour] | 1901 | A1786, 9556B |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Anzac Sports Meeting – Canowindra [b&w] | 1927 | SP459/1, 441/1/170 |
| Cricket at Canberra – Visit of MCC team [b&w] | 1937 | AA1970/853 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Australian travel posters [colour] | 1930–40 | M948 |
| Australian travel posters [colour] | 1960– | B4945 |
Posters created by the Commonwealth Advertising Division on behalf of Commonwealth agencies
In 1941 the Commonwealth Advertising Division was established with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. The Division, which operated until 1970, and its successors coordinated the Commonwealth's advertising. The posters created by the Division are for diverse campaigns including for the Egg Board, Road Safety Authority, Victory Bonds, and women in war.
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Posters and pamphlets for Commonwealth agencies | 1942–51 | C934 |
| Advertising material | 1950–52 | SP130/1 |
| Posters | 1950–61 | SP545/3 |
| Booklets and posters | 1958–65 | SP813/2 |
| Reprints of press advertisements | 1960–67 | SP968/2 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Correspondence, Commonwealth Advertising Division | 1941–53 | MP224/1 |
| Posters relating to advertising files | 1950–74 | MP1567/1 |
| Proofs of posters | 1945–65 | MP878/2 |