Australia has a rich history of environmental activism, and our collection offers a fascinating glimpse into many of these movements. From iconic, historical moments to more recent campaigns, the Library’s resources capture the diverse voices and powerful images of protest. These materials document key moments in environmental activism, offering valuable insights into the social and political forces that shaped the movements.

Key sources

Information about Climate Action protests can be found in the Library’s collection, with materials from as early as the mid-nineteen nineties to as recent as this year.

The most notable interesting material for these protests come from our pictures collection. We hold a range of photographs and posters that were created out of the different climate action protests. Some of this material can be found online on Trove, alongside with climate change archived websites found on the Australian Web Archive.

For example, in 2011 the public opposition to the introduction of carbon pricing scheme in Australia culminated in an Anti-Carbon Tax rally at Parliament House. The National Library has original photographs of protesters and their placards from the:

• ‘Convoy of No Confidence’ in Canberra
• Anti-Carbon Tax rally at Hyde Park in Sydney.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these search terms:

• School Strike 4 Climate
• Extinction Rebellion
• Climate Action Now
• Climate Action

Key sources

Through these sources you can gain an understanding of the conflicting social and political views at the time, alongside the rising importance of environmental matters to government.

• Audio recording: Tim O'Loughlin and Angie McGowan were participants in the protest and were amongst those who were sent to jail for blocking construction. Listen to their interview with Rob Willis now.
• Photographs: Peter Dombrovskis photos. One taken around the time of the protest became known as the ‘photo that saved the Franklin River’. Explore the archive of photographs.
• Songbooks: Songbooks from Franklin Dam protestors. Including one produced by the Tasmanian Wilderness Society, the Franklin River blockade songbook. Vol. II.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

Try these search terms:

• Franklin Dam Blockade
• Franklin River protests
• Peter Dombrovskis Franklin River
• Save Franklin River
• Ephemera Franklin River

Key sources

Two of the most prominent movements in our collection are that of the ‘Stop Adani’ and ‘No Coal Seam Gas’ protests.

• Stop Adani Alliance webpage on the Australian Web Archive: Most useful on the Stop Adani Alliance page is the news tab, which give context to the events relating to the protest. Check out the Stop Adani Alliance webpage.
• Photographs: Dean Sewell is an Australian photographer who is famous for his documentation of social issues across the world. The Library holds a great collection of his photographs, many of which feature an opposition to coal mining and fossil fuels. Explore the Dean Sewell collection on Trove.

Search tips

Use keywords to search by title, author or subject in the catalogue or Trove.

You can use broad search terms, or more narrow. Try these:

• No Coal Seam Gas Australia
• Stop Adani
• Carmichael coal mine
• Dean Sewell

For more search tips, go to our protest and dissent research guide.

Get help with your research

Our specialist staff can help you with your research, to locate resources and to use our microform and scanning equipment, but they cannot undertake extensive or ongoing genealogical, historical or other research on your behalf.

Find out more in our Information and Research Policy.

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