The Foley Collection is a selection of digital works from a major historic archive collected over the past 45 years by Aboriginal activist/academic Gary Foley. It is part of a large scale archive of print, audio visual and digital material currently housed at the Victoria University Moondani Balluk Academic Unit.
Led by Professor Gary Foley, based at Victoria University, who is of Gumbainggir descent, a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers are guiding the development of the interpretive and contextual documentation on this project. They represent the first of many high-impact research users of this unique material.
Funded through the ARC Linkage, Equipment, Infrastructure and Facilities scheme, the Aboriginal History Archive is addressing the data gaps in Australia’s historical record.
The new archive gives access to primary source material collected and donated by individuals and community-controlled organisations around Australia. Scholars, policymakers and communities can use the new archive to deliver a better-informed evidence base, for understanding the contemporary history of Australia.
The archive is also a valuable resource for students of History and many other areas of academic study. It contains a large amount of unique primary source material not available or easily accessible elsewhere.