The Australian Queer Archives (AQuA) collects, preserves and celebrates material from the lives and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer, Brotherboy and Sistergirl (LGBTIQ+) Australians.
Established in 1978, we hold the pre-eminent research collection for LGBTIQ+ histories in Australia. We are a volunteer-run, non-profit, community-based incorporated association. We are located in Melbourne, Australia and are assisted by members and supporters around Australia and the world.
We have the world’s largest and most significant archives of historical Australian LGBTIQ+ material as well as Australia’s largest international LGBTIQ+ collection, comprising:
- The works of writers, artists, photographers, and performers
- The papers of significant LGBTIQ+ Australians
- The records of community organizations
- Material culture and ephemera, including posters, flyers, badges, matchbooks , objects from bars, other venues and events
We make the collection accessible to researchers, cultural institutions and all others wanting to learn more about the LGBTIQ+ communities.
To share and celebrate our histories we:
- Publish books and other materials
- Support conferences, public talks and seminars
- Produce exhibitions and contribute/loan material to other exhibitions
- Run a Queer History Walk during Melbourne’s Midsumma festival
- Award a prize for honours theses in LGBTIQ+ studies deposited with us
- Give in-kind support to non-profit projects with similar or parallel aims to ours.
The collection preserves the stories of LGBTIQ+ lives and those of our lovers, friends and community and of the individuals who form it.