Visiting Us

Special Collections is open By-Appointment and is located within the Academy Library at the UNSW Canberra campus.   We value all requests and interest in our unique holdings.  Please submit your enquiry using our Contact Us form.

Important note: Temporary service changes

In 2023 our team is implementing a new collection delivery system and is prioritising UNSW researcher/Defence requests. 

UNSW staff and students/Defence staff

Online enquiries: Contact Us

Onsite service: Our By-Appointment service is available on Wednesdays between 9.30am and 4.30pm.  Appointments must be requested by the Friday prior using the Contact Us form.

  • Please note that a walk-in service is not available at any time
  • Appointments are not booked until a Special Collections staff member has confirmed the date and time with the researcher

Non-UNSW/non-Defence researchers

Online enquiries: Requests from non-UNSW/non-Defence researchers are being acknowledged, logged and placed in our holding queue for pending action. Please note in the Contact Us form the timeline for your research, including any forthcoming deadlines.

Onsite visits: We are unable to host onsite visits from external researchers during this period. Please follow this messaging for service updates.

Today's Hours 

The University of NSW, Canberra campus is located at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Campbell at the top of the hill behind the Department of Defence complex in Russell. The ADFA campus adjoins the Royal Military College, Duntroon and directions can be found via Google Maps.

UNSW Canberra Campus Map

There are two entrances to the campus: the first is off Morshead Drive which takes you through the Military College, Duntroon before arriving at ADFA, and the other is off Northcott Drive which brings you straight to ADFA. It is easiest to take the entrance off Northcott Drive. Special Collections is located in Building 13 (Academy Library). Free parking is located at carparks 90 or 91. Please note it may be difficult finding a vacant car park between 9.30am – 3pm in term time or when conferences are on.  You may park safely on the grass verges if the car parks are full.

If you have a disabled parking badge you may park in the disabled parks at the bottom of car-park 91 (nearest the library). There is an additional disabled park directly behind the library in the loading bay. The road leading to the loading bay from carpark 91 has road signs ‘no access permitted’, but if you have a disabled badge you can ignore these and drive down. Please park in the designated space only. If the space is already taken you will need to turn around and exit. Please do not park anywhere else in the loading area except the designated space otherwise the library delivery vehicles and rubbish collection vans will not be able to enter and turn.

Alternatively, a taxi will drop you at ADFA outside the Officers mess (Building 6) which is a 2-minute walk to the library. The library can call a taxi for you and the pickup point is also outside the Officers Mess. Be sure to tell the Taxi you want to go to ADFA, not the Military College at Duntroon.

The Academy Library is next to the café in the centre of the campus, if you get lost military personnel or security on campus will be able to direct you.

The UNSW Canberra is on Defence owned land and buildings and is a military base. All UNSW and Defence staff are to have relevant identification on them at all times. If visitors to the Library get stopped by security please say you are here to visit Special Collections and give the extension x88116 (Library Service desk) and the name of the person you are visiting.

When you arrive at the Library please make yourself known to staff at the front information desk.