Community collections

Last updated:

June 13, 2023

Information for Places of Deposit

Places of Deposit, or PODs, are appointed to hold original, public records from local state government agencies, which may be of interest to a local community and which are on open access to the public.

There are two types of PODs:

1. Class A PODs can hold permanent and temporary public records
2. Class B PODs can only hold temporary public records

If you are a community group and believe that you are in possession of Public Records, or an agency wishing to transfer records to a POD please contact PROV via the online contact form.

What is a public record?

This video explains what a public record is and the difference between permanent and temporary public records.

The information in the video has been converted to a downloadable PDF. To print, select 'landscape' and flip on short edge.

PROV acknowledges the kind participation of the Castlemaine Historical Society in the production of the video.

Our network of community archives preserving Victoria's history

Community archives, or officially Places of Deposit (PODs), are community facilities such as mechanics’ institutes and historical societies that preserve public records of local significance.

State Government records held in a Place of Deposit (POD) remain under the control of Public Record Office Victoria. Agencies wishing to place records into PODs must first obtain approval from Public Record Office Victoria.

Community Collections

What are community collections or Places of Deposit?

A range of historical societies, museums and genealogical organisations around regional and metropolitan Victoria have been appointed to hold temporary public records in their collections. PROV works with these organisations to support them in caring for public records, providing access to them and authorising the transfer of public records into their collections. This Victoria-wide network is growing steadily. You can browse a list of Places of Deposit by clicking here.

Bendigo Regional Archives Centre

The Bendigo Regional Archives Centre (BRAC) is a POD and holds records created by private bodies and Victorian government agencies located in the Central Goldfields region of Victoria. The collection includes local government and court records and also private collections and business records. BRAC holds a mix of permanent and temporary public records and became a POD in 2007. The Centre has been established through a collaborative partnership between Public Record Office Victoria, the City of Greater Bendigo and the Goldfields Library Corporation.

Accessing public records at Bendigo

Public records held by the Bendigo Regional Archives Centre can be searched via this website. Place an online order and you will be advised when the the records will be made available to you to view at BRAC. Learn more about ordering records held at Bendigo.

BRAC opening hours	Wednesday and Thursday (except for public holidays) 10am – 4pm
Location	First Floor, Bendigo Library Goldfields Library Corporation 251 – 259 Hargreaves Street Bendigo
Phone	03 5449 2700
Web	www.brac.vic.gov.au

Burke Museum Beechworth

Originally Built as the Beechworth Athenaeum in 1857, the Burke Museum is one of Australia’s oldest museums and is considered a ‘Museum of Museums’ with its significant collections from the 1800’s and contemporary internally produced and touring exhibitions. The Museum combines traditional didactic exhibition settings, combined with modern technology and interpretative techniques to bring the visitor a unique perspective on Beechworth’s place in Australian History.
See the Burke Museum website for their opening hours, contact details and services.

Geelong Heritage Centre

The Geelong Heritage Centre is a POD and it holds an extensive range of public and private records, newspapers, maps, plans, photographs, catalogues, indexes and a substantial library relating to the Geelong region of Victoria. The collection includes permanent and temporary public records. The Geelong Heritage Centre was one of the first PODs established in Victoria. View the Geelong Heritage Centre Archive website to search the collection, check opening hours, find contact details and services offered: https://archives.grlc.vic.gov.au/

Learn more about ordering records held at Geelong.

University of Melbourne Archives

The University of Melbourne Archives was established in July 1960, to collect and preserve records relating to the University and to business and business people for the purposes of historical research. Today it is one of the largest non-government archives in Australia, with a collection of nearly 20km of records.

The University of Melbourne Archives https://archives.unimelb.edu.au/ was appointed as a Class A POD in February 2020.