Another way to search for archives on a topic is to use an Australian or other Web search engine and search on the term 'archives' as well as terms for the topic and the country. If you find links to an archive, remember that although you may be able to search their index, you will still need to contact them to see the real documents. It is always wise to check an archive's Web site or contact them directly for instructions on how to access their material. Do this well before you intend to visit the archive. They might ask you to prove that you have a genuine research interest and even then, some information may be restricted.
Some information has cultural, ethnic or personal sensitivity .
For example, photos of indigenous people may not be able to be viewed by their own groups. Corporate archives may not allow you access. Commercial information could help their competitors. Documents which have been the subject of court cases , such as libel cases, may not be viewed by the public by order of a court. The items may be too fragile to handle.