The Australian National Hunting Archive
The Australian National Hunting Archive was established by Field and Game Australia (FGA) to document Australia’s rich history of hunting and its contribution to society. For centuries, hunting has played a crucial role in providing food and managing wildlife populations. In 2014, the Australian Deer Association (ADA) joined FGA as a financial supporter, helping expand this invaluable resource.
Archive
With a new location at the Connewarre Wetlands, the Australian National Hunting Archive serves as a research hub that chronicles over 200 years of Australia’s hunting history. It captures the cultural, social, and ecological impacts of hunting across the country. Max Downes, a passionate advocate for sustainable hunting practices, has been instrumental in building and curating the archive, ensuring the collection continues to grow and thrive.
The Max Downes Collection
In 1957, Victoria appointed its first Game Manager, marking the beginning of structured and sustainable hunting practices in the state. Max Downes took on this role, paving the way for game licensing, the establishment of State Game Reserves, and the protection of wetlands from agricultural and urban encroachment. Max's lifelong dedication to hunting as an integral part of Australian life is reflected in his extensive collection.
The Max Downes Collection consists of over 4,500 books, 20,000 documents, and a comprehensive database cataloguing 20 years of materials from libraries and archives across the country. In 2011, Max donated his collection to the FGA Wetlands Environmental Taskforce (WET) Trust to form the foundation of the Australian National Hunting Archive.
The archive now stands as Australia’s most comprehensive repository of hunting-related works. As Max Downes stated in 2010, “A study of the history of mankind’s interaction with wildlife is key to understanding the ecology of both people and wildlife. The Australian National Hunting Archive aims to collect and preserve literature on hunting from Australia’s past, allowing the public to better understand the ecological and social role that hunting has played in our history.”
The Otto Ruf Collection
In 2012, the archive was further enriched by the addition of Otto Ruf’s collection of deer heads and hunting records. Otto, a former ADA State President, Hunting Advisory Committee member, and renowned taxidermist, dedicated his life to hunting in Australia and abroad. His wife, Kath, entrusted the archive with preserving this impressive collection, which features more than 30 meticulously prepared deer heads.
A Project for All Australians
The Australian National Hunting Archive is a living project, continually growing as more documents, records, and contributions from ADA, FGA, and members of the public are added. This archive honours the legacy of hunting in Australia and provides a valuable resource for historians, researchers, and anyone interested in the cultural and ecological significance of hunting.
We are working towards having the archive recognised as a Collection of National Significance, highlighting its importance to the Australian story. Guidelines will soon be available for members and branches to contribute documents and materials. Contributions, both in content and financial support, are encouraged to help maintain and expand this national asset.
Recognising Indigenous Contributions
While the archive focuses on the social record of hunting within Australian society post-European settlement, it does not ignore the thousands of years of Aboriginal hunting practices. A significant portion of the collection explores Indigenous methods, though these practices and wildlife biology are also well-represented in national libraries and tertiary institutions. The Australian National Hunting Archive aims to fill the gaps in existing records, drawing together an underexplored aspect of Australia’s history.
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