How wonderful it was to meet Archives Outside readers in person at our Open Day last Friday! I got a few autographs on my copy of the Moments in Time book which I’m very chuffed about.
It was a huge day, final visitor figures haven’t yet been calculated but the estimate is that 300+ people trooped through our gates to see what we do, usually behind closed doors.
A big thankyou to all our guest speakers who really made the day special. Fiona and I enjoyed presenting our session on dating old photos and kudos to Bill Oates and Mick Reed who demonstrated the dating photos using shadows technique.
The day’s program was massive with tours heading off every half hour; a full day of various talks and seminars; conservation working bees; digitisation workshops, and; conservation clinics where our conservators advised people on how best to keep their family records. There was also a couple of family history stalls, a prize draw, some accordion playing and a sausage sizzle.
![Tours ran every half an hour. Archivist Janette Pelosi was one of the tour guides. Photo by Alan Ventress Open day 2011 - Tours ran every half an hour. Photo by Alan Ventress](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-tours-JP-AV.jpg)
Tours ran every half an hour. Archivist Janette Pelosi was one of the tour guides. Photo by Alan Ventress
![Tour groups stopped by conservation to see the work being done in preserving the State's heritage. Photo by Fiona Sullivan Open Day 2011 - Tour groups stopped by conservation to see the work being done in preserving the State's heritage. Photo by Fiona Sullivan](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-Conservation-FS.jpg)
Tour groups stopped by conservation to see the work being done in preserving the State's heritage. Photo by Fiona Sullivan
![Talks were filled to capacity. This is the session by Richard Lehane. Photo by Alan Ventress Open day 2011 - Talks were filled to capacity. Photo by Alan Ventress](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-talks-AV.jpg)
Talks were filled to capacity. This is the session by Richard Lehane. Photo by Alan Ventress
![One of the Conservation Clinic sessions. Photo by Paul Elliott Open Day 2011 - One of the Conservation Clinic sessions. Photo by Paul Elliott](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Conservation-Clinic.jpg)
One of the Conservation Clinics. People were able to bring in some of their own family records and received face-to-face advice from our conservators on the best way to preserve them. Photo by Paul Elliott
![There was the opportunity to join a conservation working bee and have hands-on experience working with archives. Photo by Fiona Sullivan Open Day 2011 - There was the opportunity to join a conservation working bee and have hands-on experience working with archives. Photo by Fiona Sullivan](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-WorkingBee-FS.jpg)
There was the opportunity to join a conservation working bee and have hands-on experience working with archives. Photo by Fiona Sullivan
![In Living Memory touring exhibition. Photo by Alan Ventress Open Day 2011 - In Living Memory touring exhibition. Photo by Alan Ventress](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-ILM-AV.jpg)
In Living Memory touring exhibition. Photo by Alan Ventress
![Digitisation workshop. Photo by Alan Ventress Open Day 2011 - Digitisation workshop. Photo by Alan Ventress](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Openday-digitisation-AV.jpg)
The digitisation workshops run by our photographer Tara Majoor were very popular. Photo by Alan Ventress
![The Board Room housed treasures from the collection. Photo by Alan Ventress Open day 2011 - The Board Room housed treasures from the collection. Photo by Alan Ventress](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-treasures-GD-AV.jpg)
The Board Room housed treasures from the collection. Here is archivist Gail Davis, in period costume. Photo by Alan Ventress
![The Lions Club put on a terrific sausage sizzle. Photo by Fiona Sullivan Open Day 2011 - The Lions Club put on a terrific sausage sizzle. Photo by Fiona Sullivan](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/OpenDay-BBQ-FS.jpg)
The Lions Club put on a terrific sausage sizzle. Photo by Fiona Sullivan
![Some entertainment over lunch. Photo by Fiona Sullivan Open day 2011 - Fabian with accordion. Photo by Fiona Sullivan](/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Openday-fabian-accordian-FS.jpg)
Some entertainment over lunch from archivist and accordion player Fabian LoSchiavo. . Photo by Fiona Sullivan