Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Recognised by UNESCO for Safeguarding Pacific Heritage
The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau (Pambu), based in the School of Culture, History & Language at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, has been formally recognised with an inscription on the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register. This prestigious recognition celebrates the Bureau’s extraordinary contribution to documenting the cultural, historical, and linguistic heritage of the Pacific region over the past 56 years.
Since its establishment in 1968, Pambu has been dedicated to identifying, preserving, and making accessible rare and often fragile records from across the islands of the Pacific. The Bureau’s work reflects a remarkable history of collaboration—across institutions, across oceans, and across generations. It has involved partnerships with major university libraries, scholars, and, most importantly, Pacific communities who have shared their materials, expertise, and trust.
In 2023, Pambu named an Indigenous Pacific Islands scholar as its Chair for the first time with the appointment of Dr Nayahamui Rooney in the role. The inscription on the Memory of the World Register acknowledges the Bureau’s central role, under the stewardship of the School of Culture, History & Language, in safeguarding the historical memory of a region where oral traditions, local knowledge, and written records intertwine. The collection serves not only Australia’s scholarly and public communities but also plays a crucial role for Pacific Islanders seeking to reconnect with their histories. Through thousands of manuscripts, photographs, recordings, and personal documents, the Bureau has created a vital repository of the region’s shared and diverse pasts.
The success of Pambu has always been a collective achievement. Strong support from the School of Culture, History & Language has been fundamental to the Bureau’s work, alongside the leadership and funding provided by its network of partner libraries. Many of these libraries have been involved since Pambu’s inception, contributing guidance, expertise, and continued advocacy for the preservation of Pacific heritage.
“The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau is truly a collective effort, and this recognition by UNESCO is recognition for everyone who has contributed in some way.”
— Kari James, Pacific Manuscripts Bureau
Crucially, the collection reflects the enduring relationships built with Pacific individuals and organisations. These partnerships have been shaped by collaboration, respect, and the shared goal of preserving knowledge for future generations. The communities that welcomed Pambu researchers, shared their insights, and entrusted their stories have made the Bureau’s work possible. Their generosity and wisdom are woven into every project the Bureau undertakes.
The UNESCO recognition stands as a tribute not just to the Bureau’s archival excellence, but to the collective effort of countless contributors—and to its commitment to ensuring the region’s fragile and precious histories remain protected, accessible, and alive for generations to come.