The Eros Archive at Flinders University, South Australia
(sometimes known as Australia’s porn archive)
Eros has recently become aware of an important academic article that highlights the cultural and historical significance of the Eros Collection held at Flinders University in South Australia.
Titled Revaluing the Eros Collection for Australian Cultural Histories, the article was published in Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies in August 2024. Authors Claire Henry and Julia Erhart describe the Eros Collection as “the largest collection of adult media in Australia, as well as the largest collection of Australian-produced and distributed adult media in the world.”
The authors note that the collection “contains a range of hidden or untold histories related to sexuality and Australian culture and politics,” and argue that it has “its own history worthy of telling.”
The article explains that the collection began as a collaboration between The Eros Association, who recognised the importance of housing its materials in a “secure and sustainable” environment, and a Flinders University librarian with a longstanding interest in censorship and classification issues.
Many readers may be surprised to learn that an archive encompassing erotica, censorship, advocacy, politics and freedom of expression, particularly one established by an adult industry association, has been housed at an Australian university since 1997.
Henry and Erhart examine the value of the collection, how it has been used to date, and its future potential, particularly the “untapped contributions it could make to Australian media histories.”
Eros extends its thanks to Eros legend, writer, advocate and former General Manager Robbie Swan for bringing this article to our attention. Robbie played a pivotal role in establishing the Eros Collection at Flinders University and in ensuring this unique and important resource was preserved for future research and scholarship.
