In its many years of operation, Telopea Park School has accumulated a large heritage of archival material. In this paper, it is necessary to briefly concentrate on a few highlights of the collection. The first such highlight is the comprehensive collection of thousands of photographs in over 100 albums and boxes, as well as a large number in digital form. Subjects range from photographs of the opening day of the school through to recent images, including photographs associated with the 2014 visit to the school by the then President of the Republic of France, M. Francois Hollande.

Records associated with students include a set of registers dating from the first day of operation through to the 1960s. In addition to being primary source material for historical and genealogical research, these registers provide an important insight into the early years of the Canberra community. The collection also houses 67 archive boxes of individual student records from 1955- 1976. Although student records now go to ACT government, we ensure that some record of every student is kept. This is mainly done through labeled school photographs and Emergency Contact rolls. There is also an extensive array of other documents including class rolls, inspectors’ reports dating from 1930, newspaper cuttings, curriculum papers, student work, and a large collection of papers associated with the establishment of the French/ Australian school in 1983.  One colorful addition to the school’s heritage is a set of four Guignol puppets presented to the school in 1989 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Publications in the archive include copies of the official history of the school published at the time of the 60th anniversary celebrations in 1983 and school magazines and yearbooks, some dating from as far back as 1929. Other published items include bound copies of Telopea Topics the school’s fortnightly newsletter dating from the latest edition back to the 1970s, with a small collection of earlier newsletters dating from 1944.

The archive has a large array of memorabilia including school uniforms, badges, trophies, pennants, flags and even such diverse items as a 1930’s First Aid Kit. We have recently received three school blazers – two from the 1970s and one from the 1960s. The school has been in position of being able to donate a blazer from the 1970s to the Australian National Museum of Education.