Voices and Connections Permanent Galleries

In 2019 and 2020 two significant permanent galleries, Voices and Connections, opened to the public at the National Archives of Australia, located in the capital city of Canberra. Thylacine Design saw this important project through from Stage 1 (concept design to documentation) to completion in Stage 2 (fabrication). The project incorporated the build and implementation of both the Archives Gallery (Connections) and the Federation Gallery (Voices) as part of a major gallery renewal at the institution.


Archives, whether personal or official, provide proof and validation of a relationship. Identifying and documenting these relationships preserves meaning within archival collections, and it is this notion of relationship that thematically underpins both galleries. Relationships shift the narrative lens from an authoritative Commonwealth history to a more collaborative approach. Further, the concept functions to recognise the ancient connections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to country, and provides meaningful engagement with language, culture and the fight for social justice.


The geometric and highly ordered heritage spaces of the Archives building influenced the design of both galleries, shaping the layout of the contemporary gallery fit-out.
The Connections Gallery seamlessly blends digital and collection items to create a memorable experience, facilitating meaningful engagement with the extensive collection of the National Archives. The stories told here range from the deeply personal and individual, to sweeping national narratives.


The Voices Gallery enables a first-hand experience of the foundation documents that formed the Commonwealth of Australia. The Gallery explores the navigation of relationships in the lead up to Federation, and those formalised in the Constitution. These legislative instruments are central to the gallery and exploring the historical context of their creation tells the story of Federation—and the heart of Australian democracy—in a new way.


Thylacine worked closely with the National Archives of Australia’s gallery redevelopment and curatorial teams to develop the exhibition from the design through to the completion.