About National Archives of Australia
National Archives of Australia safeguards the nation’s memory by preserving and providing access to records documenting Australian Government decisions and actions. With a collection spanning over 52 million items, it offers invaluable insights into Australia’s history, ensuring transparency, accountability, and a connection to our shared heritage.
Committed to engaging the public and supporting robust information management, the NAA provides access to their collection through research centres, online platforms, and public programs such as exhibitions and webinars. By preserving these records for future generations, they play a vital role in protecting Australia’s cultural heritage and strengthening its democracy.
Learn more at https://www.naa.gov.au/
Image: Visitor using the interactive digital wall in the ‘Connections / Mura gadi: archives, people, place’ exhibition at National Archives of Australia in Canberra, Australia.
Connecting past and future: National Archives of Australia at World Expo 2025 Osaka
As part of the Australia Pavilion at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, National Archives of Australia is proud to showcase highlights from their collection on a global stage. Among the featured items are fascinating records and items from Expo ’70, the first World Expo held in Asia, which marked a significant milestone in Australia's international engagement.
Expo ’70, themed ‘Progress and Harmony for Mankind,’ welcomed more than 64 million visitors during its 183-day run. Australia was one of over 70 participating nations, with its pavilion designed by architect James Maccormick. The futuristic structure featured a hanging roof inspired by Katsushika Hokusai's iconic woodcut The Great Wave. Visitors followed a spiral ramp showcasing a film about Australia titled Horizon before entering the ‘Space Tube’, a semi-subterranean tunnel designed by architect Robin Boyd and filled with futuristic exhibits intended to portray Australia as a modern industrial nation.
Image: Architect, James Maccormick, with an early model of the Australian Pavillion showing two arched structures, Expo ’70 Osaka, 1968. NAA: A1200, L71700
Now, 50 years later, World Expo 2025 returns to Osaka with the theme ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’. The NAA is honoured to partner with the Australia Pavilion to present treasures from Australia’s national archival collection. Their participation celebrates Australia's enduring relationship with Japan and highlights the significance of Australia's archival heritage on an international stage.
Image: Prime Minister John Gorton with Australian Commissioner-General for Expo ’70 Osaka, Rear-Admiral Thomas Kenneth Morrison, visiting the Space Tube at the Australian Pavilion on 8 May 1970. NAA: A1200, L86780
From Simon Froude, Director-General, National Archives of Australia:
‘It is an honour to partner with the Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025. We are thrilled to showcase Australia's national archival collection, celebrating our nation's deep historical ties with Japan and sharing Australia's rich cultural heritage with the world.’