Reserve Bank of AustraliaRBA Museum

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Reserve Bank of Australia Archives

Blotter designed by Vernon Lorimer of the Commonwealth Bank’s Advertising Department, c.1930-50s

An installation of archival photographs at the Reserve Bank’s head office, Martin Place, as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2010; photographed by Peter Tabor, March 2011

Looking north east from the 15th floor during construction of the new Reserve Bank head office, 27 July 1962

Establishment Department typing pool, c.1960–64

Counting cancelled notes prior to burning in the Burn Count Room, Note Issue Branch, Fitzroy, c.1958

Watercolour sketch of the 3rd floor lounge in the new Reserve Bank head office, c.1964

Files & Documents
3,093 Bound
272 Photographs
3,677 Video
11 Show All
7,743

Welcome to Unreserved

Unreserved is the online platform to access the Reserve Bank of Australia Archives. Unreserved allows you to directly access digitised copies of selected archival records as well as information about our entire archival collection.

The Reserve Bank is custodian of a rich and varied archive of records that spans nearly 200 years of Australia’s economic, financial and social history – from the convict era through to more recent times. This is because the Reserve Bank descended from the original Commonwealth Bank of Australia which had a central banking function and had absorbed other banks with a colonial history.

In addition to directly searching the Archives, there are Research and Series Guides for each Collection. Not all items in our Archives have yet been digitised. As our digitisation program progresses, new content will be uploaded to Unreserved and some will be showcased in Explore our Records. You can subscribe to receive updates.

About the Archives | History of Australia's Central Bank | Scope of Archival Holdings | Guides | Contact Us

Browse Our Collections

Series Guide: Advertising Department

This group of records relates to the work of the Commonwealth Bank’s Advertising Department. Some pages within the earliest record (AD-A-1) date from 1912 and as such pre-date the Department, w...

Series Guide: Advertising Department

Series Guide: Research Department

The Research Department series consists of files and bound volumes relating to the work of the Bank’s Research Department from its creation in 1931 as Economist’s Department to its restructur...

Series Guide: Research Department

Series Guide: Bank Governors & Senior Personnel

Bank Governors & Senior Personnel is a continuous (open ended) series of personal letters, diaries, speeches and other forms of correspondence created or received by the Bank’s governors and by...

Series Guide: Bank Governors & Senior Personnel

Research Guide: Papua New Guinea Collection

Research Guide: Papua New Guinea Collection

Research Guide: Dr Herbert Cole Coombs

Research Guide: Dr Herbert Cole Coombs

Research Guide: The Great Depression

Research Guide: The Great Depression

Research Guide: First World War

Research Guide: First World War

Series Guide: State Savings Bank of Western Australia

This series contains materials relating to the State Savings Bank of Western Australia between its creation as the Post Office Savings Bank in 1863 and its amalgamation with the Commonwealth Bank...

Series Guide: State Savings Bank of Western Australia

Research Guide: Construction of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Head Office

Research Guide: Construction of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia Head Office

Explore Our Records

Savings Bank of New South Wales - Sydney (Head Office) - Mortgage (Investment) Department - Legal Documents - Land Release, John Austin to Thomas Wylde - 2 September 1824

Savings Bank of New South Wales - Sydney (Head Office) - Mortgage (Investment) Department - Legal Documents - Land Release, John Austin to Thomas Wylde - 2 September 1824Size: 2.4MB Series: Savings Bank of New South Wales

Advertising Department - Female staff at work in the Department - c.1920s

Advertising Department - Female staff at work in the Department - c.1920s

Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia - Original visual concept entitled “If it's worth having ...” - colour - Vernon Lorimer

Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia - Original visual concept entitled “If it's worth having ...” - colour - Vernon LorimerType: Object

Careers For Young Men - Reserve Bank of Australia (white/ blue cover) - c.1960s

Careers For Young Men - Reserve Bank of Australia (white/ blue cover) - c.1960sSize: 8.2MB

Design artwork by Gordon Andrews for the RBA Emblem / Logo / Symbol / Crest - with notation that it was approved by the Governor on the 4 June 1959Type: Object

Staff - Groups - Branches - Port Moresby - Opening of Port Moresby Branch - Includes Barry James, Brendan Kelly, Peter Gibson & Denise Regan - 18 August 1960

Staff - Groups - Branches - Port Moresby - Opening of Port Moresby Branch - Includes Barry James, Brendan Kelly, Peter Gibson & Denise Regan - 18 August 1960

Booklet - 'Reserve Bank of Australia Our New Head Office' - January 1965

Booklet - 'Reserve Bank of Australia Our New Head Office' - January 1965Size: 19.7MB

Careers For Girls - Reserve Bank of Australia (white/ orange cover) - c.1960s

Careers For Girls - Reserve Bank of Australia (white/ orange cover) - c.1960sSize: 7.3MB

Savings Bank of New South Wales - Scone - Depositors Ledgers - Accounts 4-1118 (incl. Continuation) - 1872-1892

Savings Bank of New South Wales - Scone - Depositors Ledgers - Accounts 4-1118 (incl. Continuation) - 1872-1892Series: Savings Bank of New South Wales

Melbourne Project - December 1961-September 1966 - North eastern corner of roof with St Patrick's Cathedral spire and Note Issue building in background - 13 July 1965

Melbourne Project - December 1961-September 1966 - North eastern corner of roof with St Patrick's Cathedral spire and Note Issue building in background - 13 July 1965

Commonwealth Bank - Booklet - 'The Rainy Day' - Gift Book of the Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia

Commonwealth Bank - Booklet - 'The Rainy Day' - Gift Book of the Commonwealth Savings Bank of AustraliaSize: 11.7MB

Miscellaneous - Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Advertising - Poster by Vernon Lorimer - Main street in a country town with Commonwealth Bank building prominently displayed - n.d

Miscellaneous - Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Advertising - Poster by Vernon Lorimer - Main street in a country town with Commonwealth Bank building prominently displayed - n.dType: Object

Melbourne Project - December 1961-September 1966 - Erecting scaffolding for formwork - roof - 13 July 1965

Melbourne Project - December 1961-September 1966 - Erecting scaffolding for formwork - roof - 13 July 1965

Lucky Coin - 1907 Halfpenny coin found before the opening of the Commonwealth Bank in 1912

Lucky Coin - 1907 Halfpenny coin found before the opening of the Commonwealth Bank in 1912Type: Object

Construction of Trans-Australian Railways and banking facilities 1914-1917 - Receiving deposits from workers (plate 641)

Construction of Trans-Australian Railways and banking facilities 1914-1917 - Receiving deposits from workers (plate 641)

Unreserved

Reserve Bank of Australia Archives archives@rba.gov.au

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The Reserve Bank of Australia acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia as the Traditional Custodians of this land, and recognises their continuing connection to Country. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors should be aware that this Unreserved website may contain images or names of people who are now deceased.

While we make every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of information, some of the content on this site may contain inconsistencies or errors regarding dates and spelling, as recorded by different individuals or agencies.

Material in this archival collection may contain content that reflects the author’s views or those of the period in which it was created, but which may not be considered appropriate today. The content is provided in its historical context.