Do you like digging for treasure? Start a journey of discovery with Belle Alderman as she provides a window into the vibrant collection held by The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature. In this fascinating post Belle presents the ‘research files’ held in the collection as hidden gems.
Shhhh! Here is revealed one of Australia’s best kept secrets. The National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature holds 650+ ‘research files’ containing information about Australian children’s authors and illustrators. This collection began in the 1970s and continues to grow. There are literally thousands of reviews, interviews, articles, creators’ profiles and so much more.
We have three types of research files:
· Collection 1: contains material about authors and illustrators currently publishing Australian children’s books. These live in hanging files spanning 40 metres in a compactus.
· Collection 2: contains material about authors and illustrators who are no longer publishing. This collection lives in two four-drawer filing cabinets.
· Collection 3: contains material about authors and illustrators just beginning their careers. Once they have published around 10 books or their work has generated commentary we undertake extensive research about their work and create a research file. This collection lives in three x four-drawer filing cabinets.
How these research files began
Back in 1974 Lu Rees, whom we claim as the NCACL’S founder, was involved with the CBCA ACT Branch. She thought it would be a good idea to collect such items for anyone interested. When this collection moved from her home to the Canberra College of Advanced Education (now the University of Canberra) in 1980, the collection held just over 1,000 Australian children’s books and 60 research files on authors and illustrators. Now in 2026, there are 650+ research files.
Finding gems
We all have our favourite writers and illustrators but at NCACL we are always on the hunt for new creators. Support for budding creators includes Writers Centres throughout Australia, self-formed writers groups that encourage each other, experienced writers who offer courses, organisations like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and centres like Book Links QLD in Queensland and Westwords in New South Wales. There are more.
We source many websites and databases, such as the excellent AustLit database to find material about creators’ work. Once sourced, we create one copy for research purposes, so avoid infringing copyright. Each item is labelled with one of our 30 categories of material. Voila! A new research file exists.
From the collection on Narelle Oliver
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| Part of the Leonie Norrington research file. Supported Dee Huxley illustrations for two of Leonie's books |
While we are doing this work we have discovered others very interested in Australian children’s literature. Many offer to help the NCACL collect material on authors and illustrators and send this material to us for our Research Files. We fondly call them our ‘Clippers’. They live all around Australia. Each Clipper for us sources material in different ways. The Book Muse has a very active reviewing blog. She collects material for her blog and then sends her paper copies of articles to us. Another clipper for us finds treasures at op shops about Australian children’s literature.
Interior view of Biccy's Op Shop, Brighton, Victoria
We invariably gather around as these padded paper bags and the occasional box arrives from one of our Clippers. A volunteer at our Centre goes through this material and assigns one of our 30 categories to each item. For example is the item an article by author/illustrator— label it A. Is it a Review—Label it H. Is the item a teaching guide— Label it AF and so on for each item.
These days we find authors and illustrators have their own websites which promote their work. We know that publishers strongly recommend their creators do just that. Here creators use a multitude of ways to promote their work. Many creators also use social media to promote their work. These too are good sources of material for NCACL’s research files.
The never-ending story
Recently we heard from Annette Macarthur-Onslow’s niece. She reported that Annette Macarthur-Onslow died on April 25 this year, aged 93. The niece holds all of Annette Macarthur-Onslow’s artworks for her picture books including drawings and edited drafts of her stories, correspondence with publishers – the story of the book. Would NCACL be interested in such a collection? Yes! We hold the complete works of Annette Macarthur-Onslow for young people including several in translation. Upon checking our Annette Macarthur-Onslow elderly research file, there for anyone interested is a rich, deep and fascinating collection. There are copious letters written by Annette Macarthur-Onslow, exchanges between the author and those managing our collection. There are copies of articles she wrote for journals and talks she gave around Australia. There are many reviews of her books. This research file provides rich insights into Annette Macarthur-Onslow and her work.
The NCACL research files are an invaluable source of information about Australian children’s authors and illustrators over time. They provide insights into these creators’ works over time, the reception of these by the public and a deep insight into the creators themselves. Visitors from around Australia and the world visit the NCACL. Here they dive deep into the creator’s books. Those who want more pour over their research file.
1st year Education students at the University of Canberra explore Freya Blackwood's
artwork files for illustrating My Two Blankest by Irena Kobold.
The NCACL’s research files on Australian authors and illustrators began over 50 years. There are gems galore waiting for anyone interested. Perhaps one day a philanthropist will fund the digitisation of all these research files.
By Dr Belle Alderman AM
Director, National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature
Editor’s note: I was astounded and amazed when privileged to see parts of this collection on A Magical Visit three years ago. It is meticulously documented to assist researchers and interested parties to delve into this treasure trove.
Readers can help support this important work by NCACL through membership and donations.
