Star Observer To Digitise Historical Archives For Online Access
The Star Observer, a news journal for the LGBTQIA+ community that originated in Sydney over four decades ago, is making its historical archives accessible online in a searchable database. With a grant from the Meta Australian News Fund in conjunction with The Walkley Foundation, the entire collection of the publication’s reporting dating back to 1979 will be digitised.
The Star Observer gained notoriety within the community for its unwavering commitment to covering critical issues such as decriminalisation, HIV/AIDS, violence, and marriage equality for same-sex couples, making it a lasting source of information and support.
Readers will be able to access the archives and search for relevant articles and information quickly and easily. The digitisation will also help to share the community’s queer history and experiences with the world, ensuring that this information is preserved for future generations.
The announcement has been met with excitement from the LGBTQIA+ community and historians. Nick Henderson of the Australian Queer Archives called Star Observer a crucial media outlet for the community and said the digitised set would be a boon for researchers of Sydney LGBTQIA+ history. ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill believes the archives will serve as important educational and research resources for current and future generations.
Sydney LGBTQIA+ historian Garry Wotherspoon called it a major and significant achievement, saying that the digitised archives will provide easy and wonderful reading for all those who want to see what life was like for previous generations of queer communities. Australian author and Queer press pioneer Bill Calder believes the archives will be a terrific resource for community historians and those wanting to reminisce over significant moments in their past.
Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Albert Kruger said that the digitisation of the newspaper editions is a historic moment for the community, allowing them to preserve and celebrate their rich cultural and social history in Australia. Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek added that the digitisation of the archives means that the history of the LGBTIQA+ community in Sydney will be preserved for future generations.
