Forgetting our past

Abstract

While a great deal of the material evidence of Australian art of the past has been lost as a result of bushfires, other natural causes, accidents, or carelessness, even more has been deliberately destroyed. Artists or their families have often wished to erase the memory of convict or immigrant origins, youthful indiscretions, or previous marriages. The failure of national and state governments to formulate policies to ensure the preservation of business archives (including the archives of architectural firms and art galleries) continues to allow valuable material to be lost. Surviving archival material is often dispersed, occasionally inaccessible, and not infrequently inadequately catalogued. Fortunately nationwide initiatives have been launched – not a moment too soon – by the National Library of Australia and the Library of the Australian National