SOME of Canberra’s most important historical records have gone digital. All local newspapers, published before 1954, are now digitised and available to search online.

The collection was completed this week after the final three titles – Canberra Community News, Canberra Illustrated and Federal Capital Pioneer Magazine – of the collection was contributed by the ACT Heritage Library.

“The ACT Heritage Library is very proud to have contributed the last three titles in the collection,” ACT Heritage Library Manager Antoinette Buchanan said.

“This is a very exciting resource for libraries in the ACT and will vastly improve access for the world to one of the most valuable research resources on ACT history and culture.

“The joint collaboration between the National Library of Australia and Australian State and Territory libraries began in March 2007 and has committed to the preservation of every newspaper ever published in Australia through Trove, a significant search engine for Australian organisations and the public.

“The final historical newspaper titles made available this week include the Canberra Community News (October 1925 – December 1927) which released 24 issues published by the Social Service Department of the Federal Capital Commission, and Canberra Illustrated which was a single issue, 64-page illustrated title released in December 1925.

“Also available is the Federal Capital Pioneer Magazine (October 1926 – August 1927) which ran for 10 editions and included a special issue for the opening of Parliament House, as well as a very rare and useful map of property holdings for the region.

“In preserving these newspapers, a significant record of the social, political, economic and cultural issues of Canberra’s history can be retained for generations to come.”

To view the archives visit Trove Newspapers at trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper