Donate to the PNGAA Collection

The PNGAA Collection – Don’t Toss It, Share It!

Have old letters, photos, books, or memorabilia from Papua New Guinea?
Don’t throw them out—help preserve a unique shared history!

The PNGAA Collection is an ever-growing archive that tells the rich and fascinating story of Australians and Papua New Guineans who lived and worked side by side. From wartime experiences to everyday life, mining, patrols, and independence, this collection captures the human stories behind the headlines.

Whether you want to donate an item, or support the digitisation of existing materials, we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Contact:

Cheryl Marvell (PNGAA Committee): collection@pngaa.net
Roy Ranney (Membership Officer): membership@pngaa.net

2 x Wooden painted masks - Lower Sepic style - spirit masks A6a and b

A29 a and b 2x 102cm Crocodile wooden decorative carving - sepic w/ripple design
A29 c and d- 2x spear head 80cm - both tourist items,
Rosewood highly decorated walking stick - 95cm North Solomons - carved 2 snakes, crocodile female figure and 2 x male figures,
Hatted police walking stick, croodlies and snake design-106cm North Solomons (Bougainville), Walking Stick - striped ebony - 106cm 2 crocodiles, 3 rodents, 3 heads- North/West Soulawasi

A Living History

The Collection began with a simple idea by former PNGAA President Doug Parrish, and grew thanks to the commitment of Dr Peter Cahill. What started as a few photographs and diaries has become a treasured archive, drawing interest from researchers and history lovers around the world.

What’s inside?

Rare WWI & WWII photos and reports
Patrol diaries with maps and images
Stories of oil and gold mining
Personal letters and family albums
Material from ANGAU operations
Books, artefacts and more

We're working to digitise and catalogue every item, making this history accessible worldwide to members, students, and the curious alike.

Page in progress- gift subscription details similar to existing website link https:https://pngaa.org/gift-subscription-to-the-pngaa/

Where to Find It

The Fryer Library at the University of Queensland

🔍 Search the PNGAA archive at UQ
Or visit library.uq.edu.au and search "Papua New Guinea Association"

📞 To check availability of specific boxes, call the Fryer Library at (07) 3365 6276.

There are two locations that house the PNGAA collection:

* fryer library

* the Association

The Future of the PNGAA Collection

Today, PNGAA is building its own dedicated collection. We're calling on members to send materials directly to PNGAA so they can be preserved, digitised, and—where possible—displayed for generations to come.

Help us achieve an Australian Pacific Cultural & Community Centre. add hyperlink / email collections here

Let’s keep the stories alive. Every item counts. Every memory matters.

Papua New Guinea Association of Australia