Create NSW Local History Grants Program

Please download and read the guidelines carefully to confirm that your organisation and project are eligible to apply.

After reviewing the guidelines, please contact the RAHS on (02) 9247 8001 to briefly discuss your project. Alternatively, you can email us at grants@rahs.org.au and we can arrange a time to call you. This step helps us confirm eligibility early and ensures you do not spend time preparing an application that may not be suitable.

A team member will confirm whether you can proceed to the next stage.

You will be asked to confirm in the application form that you have read and understood the guidelines and have discussed your project with the RAHS.

DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES

Download the application form in Word or PDF format and email it, along with your attachments, to grants@rahs.org.au

We will acknowledge receipt of applications within two business days. If you do not receive confirmation, please contact us.

Please keep attachment sizes manageable to ensure your application is received. As a guide, emails should be under 20MB.

A key requirement of the grant is that one of your attachments must be a quote that matches the amount you are applying for.

APPLICATION FORM (PDF) | APPLICATION FORM (WORD) 

The most common issue we see is applications submitted without a valid quote, or with a quote that does not match the amount requested.

Your application must include a quote.

A quote is a written estimate from a supplier or service provider for the work you are seeking funding for, for example printing, digitisation, conservation, editing or design.

To be valid, your quote must:

• clearly describe the work or service being provided and time frame (2026/2027)
• include the supplier’s name and contact details
• show the total cost, including or excluding GST
• match the amount requested in your application

A quote is not:

• an invoice
• an email with a rough price
• an estimate without detail
• an old quote from a similar type of project that you have previously delivered

Applications without a valid quote, or where the quote does not match the amount requested, cannot be assessed.

These are the most common issues we see in applications and how to avoid them.

1. Confirm your project is eligible

Read the guidelines carefully and speak with the RAHS before applying. Projects that do not meet the eligibility criteria cannot be assessed.

2. Be clear about what you are delivering

Clearly describe what your project will produce, for example a book, digitised collection or oral history interviews. Avoid vague descriptions.

3. Show why the project matters

Explain why your project is important and how it contributes to understanding the history of NSW, its people or places.

4. Demonstrate community benefit

Be clear about how your project will increase access to history, support research or education, or preserve important resources.

5. Present a clear and consistent budget

Your budget should align with your quote and clearly show how funds will be used.

6. Include relevant supporting material

Attach documents that support your application. Avoid including large amounts of unrelated material.

7. Be realistic about time and delivery

Ensure your project can be completed within the timeframe and includes achievable milestones.

8. Proofread your application

Clear, well written applications are easier to assess and compare.

9. Make sure your organisation supports the application

Applications should be approved by your organisation, for example your committee or board.

If you have any questions, please get in touch early. We are happy to help.

All recipients of Local History Grant funding must publicly acknowledge the support of the NSW State Government and the RAHS by using the appropriate logos on publications, invitations, banners, any other printed or electronic material undertaken in relation to the funded activity, any products developed as a result of the funded activity, organisation websites (in a position appropriate to the level of support) and any other promotional material.

Failure to include this acknowledgement can result in the cancellation of your grant and the return of your grant funding. The acknowledgment must include the below wording and the logos of both Create NSW and the Royal Australian Historical Society:

This project is supported by Create NSW’s Local History Grant Program, a devolved funding program administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government.

Please contact the RAHS for a soft copy of the relevant logos.

Newspapers provide unique insights into the past and remain an important historical research source. The Local History Grants Program provides funding for digitising newspapers to make them available on Trove. The National Library of Australia (NLA) established the Australian Newspaper Digitisation Program in 2007, a project that has made over 20 million pages of digitised newspapers available online through Trove. The NLA has contributor guidelines and an outline of the workflow process that will be useful for applicants.