The records in [the] collection [of the national archives] trace the events and decisions that shaped the nation. [The archives] hold the papers of Governors-General, Prime Ministers and Ministers. [They] have Cabinet documents, Royal Commission files and departmental records on defence, immigration, security and intelligence, naturalisation, and many other issues involving the federal government. The main focus of [the] collection is records created since the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. [They] also have some nineteenth-century records relating to functions that were transferred by the colonies to the Commonwealth government, including shipping and post offices. While most records in the collection are files, we also have significant holdings of photographs, posters, maps, architectural drawings, films, playscripts, musical scores and sound recordings. Beneath general information about the national archives, their publications and exhibitions the website gives access to RecordSearch, an online database containing descriptions of 80.000 collections and over 2.500.000 record items.