The State Library of NSW has some outstanding collections that will enhance class teaching across a wide variety of areas. These resources can be used with the current HSIE syllabus and will provide useful source materials for the new History K – 6 syllabus when schools commence optional implementation in 2015.

These resources are available in the manuscript collections.

Topics covered include: European exploration of Australia and the Pacific, Australia’s foundation documents including the First Fleet diaries, Indigenous Australians, colonial life, Antarctica, World War I, sport and literature.

Particular resources of value to K – 6 teachers include:

· Papers of Sir Joseph Banks

· First Fleet Diaries which provide a rich insight into the voyage, the daily life and death in the colony and include early accounts of contact with Indigenous Australians

· Mathew Flinders Archives

· World War One diaries and letters

· Australia’s Antarctic Expedition

· Cricket Bodyline Cables

You will find more information about convicts than free settlers in the First Fleet collection as more of their detailed records have survived.

If you want to explore a convict's early life, including their crime and sentence as well as the voyage to the colony, use the Convicts: Bound for Australia guide available also from the State Library.

For more information, contact:
Christine Taylor
Inspector, Primary Education
christine.taylor@bos.nsw.edu.au
(02) 9367 8199