Local History collection

The library is currently digitising Local History materials which is freely available via our Blacktown Memories platform.
Explore our local history through maps, posters, council minutes (1906-1959), oral histories and much more.

Blacktown Memories

First awarded in 2008, the Mayoral History Prize provides an opportunity for the wider community to add to the rich and diverse history of the Blacktown local government area.

The competition opens on 1 March and closes on 31 July each year.
Categories include Yrs. 7 to 9, Yrs. 10 to 12, over 17 and entries by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Details on the Mayoral History Prize are available here.

Blacktown City Libraries may accept donations of materials for inclusion in the Local History collection.
This includes:

• posters, stickers and memorabilia

• photographs – digital or print

• newsletters/magazines from local community organisations

• sound  or video recordings

• images of WWII military personnel who were born or lived in the Blacktown area.

If you would like to donate please contact Local History via localhistory@blacktown.nsw.gov.au

The physical collection, which has approximately 4,000 items, covers a broad range of published and unpublished material relating to the Blacktown local government area.

Local History books are listed on the library catalogue. Subjects include:

• theatre
• education
• biography
• environment
• architecture
• conservation management plans
• history.

Council minutes from Council’s formation in 1906 to 1959 have been microfilmed.

Please note: some of the pages are handwritten and may be hard to read.
Digitised copies of these minutes are available via the Blacktown Memories platform.

The library also keeps copies of recent Business Papers (current year and two previous years), which are available to view during library opening hours. See staff at the Max Webber Library, Reference Desk on Level 1 for assistance.

Business Papers

The Local History collection contains journals and magazines from a number of historical societies including:

• Blacktown and District Historical Society

• Friends of St Bartholomew’s

• Mount Druitt and District Historical Society

• Prospect Heritage Trust

• Riverstone and District Historical Society

• Royal Australian Historical Society

The Local History collection holds approximately 800 historical maps and plans. Most have been digitised and are available on the Blacktown Memories platform.

Blacktown Memories

As some maps are fragile, the originals will only be retrieved by special request to the Local History staff.

Our Local History collections holds print and microfilm copies of several local newspapers.

Newspaper titles

Due to the fragile condition of print volumes, original newspapers will only be retrieved if no microfilm is available or by special request to the Local History staff. 

Our oral history program allows us to capture the area’s local history in a different way.

If you have a story that you would like to share about life in the Blacktown local government area, please contact Local History via localhistory@blacktown.nsw.gov.au.

Our photographic collection, which includes approximately 10,000 images, provides documentary evidence of Blacktown’s diverse history and heritage. Digital copies of our photographs can be viewed on our Blacktown Memories platform.

Blacktown Memories

If you would like to use or obtain a digital copy of a photograph, please contact us for further information. Fees may apply.

Some of the most popular items on Blacktown Memories are home movies and videos showing life in Blacktown over time.

Blacktown Memories

The Ask a Local History Librarian service allows library members to ask questions and receive answers via email, or over the phone. We can help answer general questions on Blacktown LGA’s local history or family history.

Please note, we cannot undertake detailed research for you.

Ask a Local History Librarian