State Records turned 50 in June 2011. During the early part of the 20th century, the State's archives were cared for by the Mitchell Library and the Archives Section of the Public Library. By the 1950s moves were underway to establish an independent body to regulate the disposal of public records and to manage the State archives collection. After passage through Parliament during 1960, the Archives Act (No. 46 of 1960) commenced on 1 June 1961, and on that day the first Archives Authority (Chair, Deputy Chair and seven members) as well as the Principal Archivist were appointed.
