Archives and Heritage

The Archives and Heritage team manages the archival and heritage collections of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea. This includes the collections of the former Sisters of Mercy congregations of Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Grafton, Singleton, Gunnedah, Wilcannia-Forbes, Bathurst, Goulburn, Ballarat East, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, West Perth and Papua New Guinea.

Our Mission

ISMAPNG Archives and Heritage is committed to acquiring, documenting and preserving the archival and heritage collections of the Institute so that the story of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea will continue to inform and inspire the continuing Mercy mission into the future.

The Collection

Records and objects have been selected for retention and preservation due to their administrative and historical significance and provide evidence of congregational activities, religious life and ministries from 1846 to the present day.

Our rich and diverse collection includes archival records, photographs, audiovisual material, building plans, publications, textiles, small heritage objects, furniture and artworks.

The Archives and Heritage Collection contains several published histories of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

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Contact

The Institute’s Archives and Heritage Centre will be closed from the 6^th of September 2024. This will include a temporary suspension of collection services. No external research requests or inquiries will be processed except those received from individuals requesting copies of their medical or care leaver records. Please be aware that a response may take some time. Internal inquiries (that is from ISMAPNG staff and sisters) will continue to operate as usual. We invite you to contact us again when we reopen to all inquiries on the 1^st of October 2025. We apologise for any inconvenience.