Decision details

Moved by Councillor Arkins, seconded by Councillor Miller –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         that 2026 marks 50 years since the City of Sydney Council appointed our first official archivist, in 1976

(ii)        since then, the archives have become an invaluable resource for staff at the City, for Councillors, professional researchers, and members of the community, holding over one million items spanning maps, building plans, photographs and more

(iii)       the availability of the archives has recently expanded, with more than 46,000 town clerk records recently being digitised

(iv)       that through digitisation, the archives have taken on a whole new life, with people all over the world able to explore their memories of and connections to Sydney

(v)        that the archives help shape our understanding of who we are, through ensuring we don’t forget the people who have shaped our city

(vi)       that the story of the archives has been brought to life through a number of recent events, including Stories from the City Archives at Darling Square Library on Thursday 10 September 2026, a free talk held as a part of history week, which was well attended by the community and very much enjoyed

(B)       the Lord Mayor and Chief Executive Officer be requested to jointly write to:

(i)         the current City Archivist, Janet Villata, congratulating her and her team on their momentous anniversary, and thanking them for facilitating celebratory events for both staff and the local community

(ii)        previous City archivists, where possible, thanking them for their contribution to our City.

Carried unanimously.

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