From boxes to bytes: The usefulness of digital portals for the Australian aviation heritage community

Abstract

Using the example of the Australian aviation heritage community, this thesis investigates the role of digital portals in enhancing the accessibility of heritage collections held by community archives. It addresses the core question: How useful are digital portals for community archives in making their collections accessible to the public? This research examines how information architecture and online platforms can improve discoverability, sustainability, and user engagement while also navigating challenges related to organisational capacity and accessibility.
A mixed-method approach, grounded in pragmatism, underpins this research. Methods include surveys, case studies of digital portals and collections, interviews with community archive custodians, and autoethnographic research from my involvement in establishing the Mount Gambier Aviation Museum.
Users of digital collections often uncover valuable resources that support their research, leaving them highly satisfied. This research highlights users’ perseverance and distinct information-seeking behaviours, which enable effective navigation and use of these resources. Despite these successes, community archives face significant challenges in making collections accessible and discoverable, including issues related to organisational capacity, volunteer skills, technology use, and governance. However, my findings demonstrate that incremental progress can yield substantial benefits; a digital collection need not be fully online to provide value to both the community archive and its users.
This research challenges traditional notions of digital portal effectiveness by demonstrating that usefulness extends beyond technical perfection, encompassing user perseverance and the intrinsic value of niche materials. It offers practical insights for community archives, emphasising the importance of prioritising high-value materials and leveraging collaborative platforms to balance resource constraints with user needs. As a foundational step, this research offers a framework to inform similar efforts across niche heritage sectors—focusing on accessibility, storytelling and fostering innovative models for sharing digital heritage data.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	English
Supervisor	Ben ENNIS BUTLER (Supervisor), Tracy IRELAND (Supervisor) & Tim SHERRATT (Supervisor)