Collections

About the NCM Collections

The National Communication Museum (NCM) houses a vast collection of communication materials dating back to the 1850s, exploring how Australians have connected across time, place and technology.

Displayed across immersive galleries and interactive spaces, the collection offers a hands-on journey through past, present and future technologies — from early telegraphy to emerging digital systems.

History of the Collection

For more than 60 years, a small group of former and current employees from the Postmaster-General’s Department (PMG), Australia Post, Overseas Telecommunications Commission, Telecom and Telstra collected and preserved materials, archives and social histories broadly defined through communication technology.

In 2018, Telstra established Heritage Telecommunications Limited (HTL) to protect the collection and make it accessible to the public. The collection and seed funding were donated to establish the National Communication Museum.

Today, materials in the collection underpin NCM’s research, exhibitions and collecting strategy, supporting both heritage preservation and the acquisition of new and emerging technologies.

What materials do you collect?

We collect communication technologies and ephemera that – through their stories, uses, or impact – reflect how people in Australia have connected with each other across time. These items help us understand the cultural, social, economic and technological changes that have shaped life in Australia.

Is NCM currently accepting collection offers?

Many of the items in NCM’s collections are as a result of generous donations from members of the public. A collection offer is the voluntary transfer of objects, artworks, or archival materials from an individual, family, or organisation to the National Communication Museum. The materials you offer must be yours, or you are the legal representative on behalf of the offer.

Your donation to NCM’s collections may be eligible for tax incentives under the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program. For more information on eligibility, please refer to the Office for the Arts website .

NCM is currently not accepting collection offers

While we undertake a review of our collections policies, the National Communication Museum is not actively accepting collection offers, except in cases where an object is of particular significance or relevance to our collection and research priorities.

This pause allows our team to focus on preserving, researching and cataloguing our existing collections.

We ask that you do not drop off any items to the museum or send objects by mail without prior acceptance of your offer or otherwise arranged with the Collections Committee. NCM cannot accept unsolicited material and is not responsible for any materials provided in this manner.

Submitting materials for consideration

If you believe you have an object of exceptional significance to Australia’s communication history, you may submit details via the form below.

Please note:

• Due to limited capacity, we may not respond to all submissions
• If you do not hear from us within three months, please accept this as a decline
• This does not reflect the importance of your object, but rather our current capacity and collecting priorities

Thank you for your understanding.

Before you submit a collection offer

Please be aware that in most cases NCM:

• Does not accept items on loan
• Will not accept items with restrictions or conditions attached
• Cannot accept hazardous items unless there are compelling reasons (including firearms, asbestos, flammable, explosive, toxic, mouldy, potentially carcinogenic or radioactive materials)
• Will not accept items that are significantly damaged or incomplete
• May decline items where insufficient information is available about their history, provenance, or ownership

If an item is accepted

If your item is suitable for the collection:

• A curator will contact you to discuss the item and its significance
• Documentation will be prepared to transfer ownership to NCM
• The item will be catalogued and recorded in the collection
• It may be displayed in exhibitions, loaned to accredited institutions, or made available for research

Why we may decline an offer

We are unable to accept every object offered. Common reasons include:

• We already hold a similar item in the collection
• The item is not in suitable condition
• The item does not align with our current collecting priorities
• There is limited information about the item’s history

Where possible, we may suggest another institution that could be a more appropriate home.

Is my collection offer tax deductible?

Your donation to NCM’s collections may be eligible for tax incentives under the Australian Government Cultural Gifts Program. For more information on eligibility, please refer to the Office for the Arts website .

Does NCM provide valuation services?

NCM does not provide valuations or appraisals of objects.

For insurance, probate, taxation or sale purposes, we recommend contacting a government-approved or professional valuation service.

Does NCM provide conservation services?

NCM is unable to provide conservation services for privately owned materials.

If you are seeking advice from a conservator regarding material identification, condition assessments, or treatment of your items, please refer to the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM) to find a qualified conservator.