the associated information using a one page worksheet. The project was promoted with each area before staff arrived to undertake copying and recording work.

The criteria used for selecting images was that they contained information about people, their activities at work, home and play, and the built environment. Landscapes and portraits, particularly studio shots, were not copied as part of the BFA project, as it was felt they did not meet the aims of the project.

The BFA project was conducted to increase the representation of images of everyday life, taken by ordinary people, in Victoria's State Collection. These types of images are a unique and highly significant historical resource, and provide insights into domestic and working life, education, recreation, travel, settlement and much more. As these types of imagesdegrade significantly with time, this project was a means of preserving these images and their associated information before it was lost or forgotten.

The collection comprises over 9,000 copy negatives, with the originals remaining with the owners. In 2006 a related project, Melbourne's Biggest Family Album. collected approximately 1,200 images of Melbourne's history using the same collecting methodology.

All of the images from both collections are digitised and accessible through the Museum Victoria website and Picture Australia.

Several publications have resulted from the project: Bate, Weston (1989). Having a Go! Bill Boyd's Mallee, Museum of Victoria McConville, Chris (1988). Mum and Dad Made History, Museum of Victoria Museum of Victoria (1990). The Biggest Family Album in Australia, Museum of Victoria Pitts, Lillian Louisa (1990). Merrigum Frank, Museum of Victoria