Formed in the mid-1990s and incorporated in 1998, the archives held the purpose of collecting and protecting materials made by and for the LGBTIQA+ community in WA. 

The archives span in time from the Second World War to now, holding details of lives, dreams, adversities and triumphs. 

Within the collection are magazines, newsletters, organisational documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, posters, costumes and other meaningful objects. 

Pro Vice Chancellor Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Dr Rebecca Bennett said the agreement was a step forward in ensuring autonomy and agency in the sharing of LGBTIQA+ stories.  

“It is a testament to the collective effort, love and care that has preserved over 90 years of LGBTIQA+ history in WA,’ Dr Bennett said. 

The collection documents stories of survival, protest and celebration that add depth, truth and colour to the effort to make sense of and reconcile with our past.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is one of Murdoch University’s three pillars, and the 2024-2030 EDI sub-strategy emphasises collaboration with key external bodies as a priority area for driving meaningful change. 

WestPride Archives committee member Graham Grundy said the agreement would allow for further investment in the collections. 

“The long-term stability provided by the agreement gives us confidence to invest further resources into the collection and to continue to promote our services by partnering with LGBTIQA+ organisations and making more of the catalogue available online through our digitisation projects,” Mr Grundy said.  

In its almost 30-years, the WestPride Archives have held the nuanced history of the WA LGBTIQA+ community’s experiences. The isolation of the West and its large regional areas meant the community held unique perspectives which were significant to value and document.  

Murdoch University librarian Dawn McLoughlin said signing the 10-year agreement held deep significance for the future of LGBTIQA+ recordkeeping and knowledge sharing.  

“The collection holds an extensive range of artefacts including oral histories, audiovisual records, all kinds of literary and printed educational materials; organisational records, textiles, photographs, posters and personal ephemera... the collection also holds significant material relating to the push for law reform in WA,” Ms McLoughlin said. 

“This partnership has provided an opportunity to confirm that WestPride and the university, including Murdoch University's EDI team, will collaborate with each other to promote and support the collection through planning and coordinating joint initiatives.”