Estonian House in Sydney is being renovated, and part of it is being prepared for commercial letting. This meant that the Archive had to move from its previous location on the first floor to a new site on the lower ground floor. Though smaller than the previous one, the new architect-designed, air-conditioned and light-controlled room is a much better fit for our collection. We had to carefully review our collection, especially the library, to decide what to keep and offer other memory institutions. The new compact takes 660 archive boxes; we are rearranging the library shelves and will, for the first time, have room to display our collection of paintings.
The Archive is still open on Wednesdays from 10 am to 3 pm, but we also have it open whenever there are functions at Estonian House. The new site is easily accessible from both inside and outside Estonian House and has led to an increase in visitors and a renewed interest in our collection. The
Archive opened on 27th November 2022, with numerous past and present volunteers and representatives of the Sydney Estonian Society, the Estonian House Cooperative Society and the Council for Estonian Societies in Australia attending.
Maie Barrow – Hon. Archivist