RMIT University Archives Collection

RMIT University Archives preserves and makes available an ever-growing repository of records that help to tell the story of how the institution has evolved from the Working Men's College in 1887 to the global university of today.

RMIT University Archives operates as the institutional repository for university records that are evidence of the functions and activities performed throughout RMIT. Our mission is to acquire, organise, preserve and publicise such materials and to assist researchers in their use.

Our collection spans from the commencement of the Working Men’s College in 1887 until present day, and includes records of predecessor entities.

Download the RMIT University family tree (PDF)

Key Resources

Take the RMIT University Archives virtual tour

Visit RMIT's state of the art Archives facility located in Bundoora in this online, interactive tour. To navigate, click and drag to explore each 3D space, or use 'tab' to move between interactive points. Can we make this tour better? Let us know at digital.learning.library@rmit.edu.au

Collection summary

Image collection

Photographs and drawings that illustrate the significant contribution to education and training by RMIT University, the development of technology and images of significant Melbourne landscapes.

Prospectus books, calendars and handbooks

Annual publications dating from 1887 that provide comprehensive information about programs and courses, teaching and administrative structures and procedures, and services provided to students. Incorporates educational institutions that have merged with RMIT University.

Correspondence and subject files

These record keeping systems provide evidence of key decisions made throughout the history of RMIT University.

Committees and Boards

Meeting papers from committees and boards established throughout the history of RMIT.

Magazines, newsletters and journals

Publications that illustrate life at RMIT University from both a student and staff perspective.

Staff and student administration records

Collections of records that provide details on individuals who have studied or worked at RMIT.

Digital resources

Books relating to RMIT’s history (Library subject guide)
Emily McPherson Collection (Library subject guide)
Catalyst student magazine (login required for items 1-50 years old)
RMIT Handbooks - prospectus, calendars and handbooks from 1930 to 2008
RMIT University Course Guides (1999 – 2005)
RMIT Historical Images
Printing - RMIT's history of teaching printmaking (login required)
RMIT University History (Archives finding aid)
Collection Showcases

RMIT University history timeline

Information to access RMIT archives

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Our holdings relate to RMIT University (2002 onwards) and its predecessors and merged institutes and colleges.

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Royal Melbourne Technical College
Melbourne Technical College
Working Men’s College
Phillip Institute of Technology
Preston Institute of Technology
State College of Victoria at Coburg
Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy
Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts
Melbourne Institute of Textiles

Download the RMIT University family tree (PDF 16KB) for a complete list.

The Public Record Office Victoria also holds some records for the above organisations.

Obtaining a copy of results, official transcript or certificate

The Exams, Awards and Graduations Unit co-ordinates such requests. Please consult the following for further information regarding the process:

How to apply for academic transcripts, including archived transcripts

1998 and earlier 

RMIT University Archives maintains a comprehensive collection of records and can assist with your search for historical program and course information dated 1998 and earlier.  

Contact RMIT Archives with the following information where known: 

student name (as it was while a student) 
student number  
program name and code  
course names and numbers (and year each course/subject was studied)

The course details will be scanned and emailed back to you. 

1999-2005 

Course Guides from 1999 to 2005 are publicly available online at RMIT University Course Guides (1999-2005).   The Course Guides often contain the Program Outline.

You can also search RMIT Handbooks (1930 – 2008) collection (accessible to RMIT staff, student, alumni - login required).

2006 onwards 

Requests for Program and Course information from 2006 onwards should be directed to RMIT Connect .

Login as Guest via the RMIT Connect service portal and lodge an 'Academic Advice' request.  You can also reach RMIT Connect by phone on +61 3 9925 5000. 

Note: For requests regarding information for the current year, please see Program and Course information.

The RMIT University Archives Collection is open to staff, students and the general public. Some access restrictions may apply.

Contact RMIT Archives about your request.

Visits must be arranged with prior notification.

Researchers will be required to comply with RMIT Archives Collection Access Requirements (DOCX 19KB, 1p) and complete the RMIT Archives Researcher Registration Form (DOCX 43KB, 1p) prior to or at the time of their visit.

When reproducing or referring to archival records it is important to cite them accurately. This enables other researchers to locate and use the records in the future and aids in the checking of sources.

When citing items from the Archives, please include:

Title
Date/s (if not part of title)
Unique identifier (Item or Series number)
The record holder, ie RMIT University Archives.

Citation style

[Item title], [date/s], Item no. [item number], RMIT University Archives.

[Series title], [date/s], Series [series number], RMIT University Archives.

Example

‘Beazley Scholars (Prize) Honour Board 1932 - 1958 for Handrailing, Carpentry and Joinery and Cabinet Making Departments’, Item no. ART-00173, RMIT University Archives.

‘Artefacts, Oversized Objects and Ephemera of RMIT and all its Merged Institutes, 1899 – 2000’, Series S0518, RMIT University Archives.

If you need to cite in brief in addition to the full citation, it’s a good idea to reference the item title (although it could be shortened) or the item number, and RMIT University Archives. Examples:

Beazley Scholars, ART-00173, RMIT University Archives
ART-00173, RMIT University Archives
Beazley Scholars, RMIT University Archives

Copyright information

Visit the Copyright advice page.

Digital Preservation at RMIT University

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The Digital Preservation Coalition defines digital preservation as:

the series of managed activities necessary to ensure continued access to digital materials for as long as necessary.

A good digital preservation practice begins when a digital record or artefact is created, in processes like file naming, format choice, and metadata capture. Creating digital materials without digital preservation processes in mind leaves them vulnerable.

What’s in scope? Any digital object where the lifecycle and use case is longer than the lifecycle of the infrastructure on which it was created. This includes born-digital and digitised, structured and unstructured, ephemeral, and essential objects. 

Digital preservation also enables deletion. Good digital preservation is about keeping control over the digital estate and thereby creating permission to dispose – what to get rid of, and when to get rid of it.

Find out Why digital preservation matters (DPC website).

In 2024, RMIT’s Information Governance Board endorsed the University wide Digital Preservation Strategy 2024 -2031 (PDF 6.6. MB). This followed extensive university wide consultation, see Digital Preservation Strategy 2024 - Stakeholder Consultation Report (PDF 503 KB).
In 2022 RMIT University became an Association member of the international Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC), giving all RMIT staff access to specialist resources, webinars, special interest groups and training.
In 2022 RMIT hired its first Digital Archivist and in 2024 this role was made ongoing. The digital archivist has expertise in managing digital format records using specific tools, standards and workflows.
The Archives team are members of communities of practice including Australasia Preserves.

In April 2022 RMIT University (under the auspices of the Library) joined the internationally renowned Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) as an Associate Member.

The DPC is a member organisation dedicated to the global issue of preserving our digital legacy. Two teams based in Glasgow and Melbourne support the membership via several activities including community engagement, workforce development, capacity building, and good practice and standards.

This new membership supports the Library's mission to ensure our digital memory is accessible today and into the future, and our goal to develop a strategy and capabilities across the University for the long-term preservation of our digital assets and cultural heritage.

There are many opportunities for digital uplift and knowledge exchange that come from being part of this global community of practice.

Benefits of membership include:

Free access to regular webinars, courses and published resources and tools created by a community of international experts. There is no limit on staff numbers for attendance.
Discounted fees to the annual international digital preservation conference iPres, and free access to recordings from previous conferences. The conferences have been in hybrid format since 2020, giving more people the chance to attend without having to incur the usual expenses.

A full list of membership benefits is available on the DPC website.

The University Melbourne and University of Monash are also members, as is the State Library Victoria, and various other state and national libraries and archives. We are now part of a strong and growing community in Australia and New Zealand.

RMIT staff and students can register as a DPC member and access the free webinars and other resources.

Contact

Submit a query

Contact form

Visit by appointment

Wurundjeri Country
Building 202 Plenty Rd
Bundoora Victoria

Phone: + 61 3 9925 6067

Postal address

RMIT University Archives
Wurundjeri Country
PO Box 71
Bundoora VIC 3083
Australia

Image credits

‘Graduation Emily McPherson College April 1972’, S0047 Emily McPherson College Photographs c.1900 – 1979, Item reference no: EMC-193.
‘Francis Ormond School - North & East Sides 1940’, S0462 Photographic Collection, Item reference no: PH2.4.011:01.
‘Phillip Institute of Technology Bundoora campus c.1984’, S0653 Photographs 1920-2006, Item reference no: MISC-00015.
‘Leather bound certificate that was presented to Charles Stewart Paterson in recognition of valuable service to the Working Men’s College 1903’, S0518 Artefacts, Oversized Objects and Ephemera, Item reference no: ART-00015.
‘Chemistry Laboratory Building 1 1900’, S0462 Photographic Collection, Item reference no: PH3.4.002:01
Stack of RMIT College Handbooks. Photo taken by Archives staff in 2019.
‘Harold Brown, Art Department 1940’, S0462 Photographic Collection, Item reference no: PH6.1.008:01.
Spines of Working Men’s College registers. Photo taken by Archives staff in 2019.
‘Working Men’s College Library Building 1 1900’, S0462 Photographic Collection, Item reference no: PH2.1.045:01.

Unless otherwise stated, images are sourced from the RMIT University Archives and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

RMIT University Archives Collection