What are the dimensions of the journal? Archive Journals are made using 120 gsm archival paper that has a sheet size of 200mm x 280mm, being slightly less than a standard A4 sheet of paper (210mm x 297mm). Archive Journals contain 360 pages and are approximately 40mm thick. The weight of each journal is approximately 1.8kg, and 2.8kg in its protective wooden box.

What is inside the journal? Designed to inspire mindfulness and self-reflection across your lifetime, Archive Journals are made up of two sections. The first section comprises a series of thought-provoking prompts for recording memories about your family and the important people, places and stages of your life; memories of your parents and siblings, your childhood, growing up and becoming an adult, the ups and downs of life, and the changes you have experienced in your lifetime.

The second section is for yearly journaling with each double page spread representing one year in your life. Starting at 0, this section allows space for you to record up to 110 years of your life (we have allowed for an ever-increasing life expectancy). Here you can record and summarise the key moments and memories of each year as you live it. Over time this will provide a chronological story of your life for you to reflect upon and for future generations to enjoy for hundreds of years to come.

At the back of the journal are spare lined pages if additional space is required or if you want to include other information about your life’s story.

All pages of the journal are lined.

How are Archive Journals made? Archive Journals are made in Australia by highly experienced craftspeople. We use only the highest quality materials and production techniques to ensure the longevity of each journal.

The paper used in an Archive Journal is a specially made 120 gsm archival paper, made in Australia to the highest possible standards. Each page of an Archive Journal bears a faint watermark of the ‘Q Infinity’ logo which is a registered trademark of the National Archives of Australia and certification that the paper has been made in accordance with their strict criteria and specifications to ensure it has the chemical stability and physical durability to remain usable for more than 500 years.

Great time and care is taken to bind each Archive Journal as a section sewn case bound book. This method of production is one of the strongest binding techniques and enables you to open your journal flat when writing without damaging the spine.

Archive Journals are available in two finishes. Our classic black buckram finish features a cotton-based archival book cloth that has been used in book binding for centuries. Our traditional leather finish is crafted with natural vegetable tanned kangaroo leather and is available in three colours: ochre, cognac and chocolate.

All Archive Journals come supplied in a custom-made wooden box to store and protect your journal from damaging environmental factors such as UV light and dust and to preserve your journal for hundreds of years to come.

How long does the journal last? Archive Journals are created using the highest quality materials specifically chosen for their longevity. The paper used in an Archive Journal is a specialist archival paper, made in Australia to the highest possible standards. Each page bears a faint watermark of the ‘Q Infinity’ logo which is a registered trademark of the National Archives of Australia and certification that the paper has been made in accordance with their strict criteria and specifications to ensure it has the chemical stability and physical durability to remain usable for more than 500 years. These standards exceed the Standards Australia (AS), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and International Standards Organisation (ISO) requirements for permanent paper.

Our considered choice of materials and production techniques, combined with the use of specialist ‘Q Infinity’ archival paper, will ensure that Archive Journals will withstand the test of time to be passed down as a family heirloom for hundreds of years to come.

Who are Archive Journals for? Archive Journals are suitable for anyone of any age. Keep one for yourself to record your own life story, or alternatively, give one as a meaningful and unique gift to someone special whose life story is important to you, such as a parent or grandparent. Archive Journals also make a great gift for celebrating life’s milestones such as a significant birthday, graduation, or retirement.

Archive Journals also make a perfect baby gift idea for parents celebrating the birth of a child. Parents can fill out the journal for the first few years of the child’s life, recording milestones and key events for the child until they are old enough to take over the journal and continue recording their own memories and life stories. Just be sure to leave enough space for the child to be able to come back and record their own thoughts and memories of their early years.

What do I use to write in my journal? When writing in your journal it is important to ensure that whatever you use has archival properties to preserve your writing and compliment the longevity of the journal.

We recommend to simply use a soft graphite pencil (2B or 4B) when writing in your journal. Although it sounds counter intuitive because pencil can be erased, but graphite pencils have been used for hundreds of years, are affordable, chemically stable, will not bleed and are used throughout museums and archives around the world for their archival properties.

Alternatively, there are a number of archival pens available on the market today which are chemically stable and acid free with long-lasting pigment inks. The use of standard ball-point or felt tip pens is not recommended as the dyes and pigments in these products are likely to fade over time, potentially making your journal unreadable.

How do I store my Archive Journal? Archive Journals are supplied to you in a custom-made wooden box which will protect your journal over time. When not using your journal, keep it inside your storage box and lay it in a flat position so as not to cause unnecessary pressure on the book’s spine. Keeping your journal in the storage box provided will also protect it from potentially harmful environmental factors such as dust and UV light. 

Store your box in a well insulated and well ventilated location away from outside walls to minimise fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity caused by changes in diurnal temperature and radiant heat. It is also important to keep your storage box away from sources of moisture such as kitchens, bathrooms and areas near heating systems and water pipes which have the potential to cause mould.

How do I store photos in my journal? Using photos is a great way to trigger memories or to visually display something that you have described. If placing photos within your journal, we recommend simply slipping the photo between the pages, or alternatively, using archival photo corners to pin the photos in place. Avoid the use of paper clips as these can leave rust marks on the paper surface. Similarly, do not use adhesive tape, spray adhesives, or post-it notes as these are often acidic, can badly stain items and can leave a damaging adhesive residue.

Why Kangaroo Leather? We have specifically chosen Kangaroo leather to make our journals for its superior strength and durability. Kangaroo leather has a unique fibre morphology that makes it lighter and stronger than cow or goat leather, having 10 times the tensile strength of cowhide and being twice as strong as goatskin. Weight for weight kangaroo leather is the strongest and lightest natural leather available.

Is using Kangaroo leather humane? The harvesting of kangaroos in Australia is strictly managed and regulated by the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy. Refer to this industry link for further details about the kangaroo harvesting process.

What are those marks on the leather in the photos? The marks on the leather are the natural features of the hide. Kangaroos are a wild animal and their hides will often contain scratches or scaring from everyday life in the bush. The traditional vegetable tanning technique used to make Archive Journals does not conceal these natural features which often come through as markings on the leather. Although we try to use hides with minimal amounts of scaring, each Archive Journal is likely to contain some level of marking which is naturally occurring and does not effect the performance of the leather. Rather, these markings are considered a natural feature that help make each journal unique.

Do you offer personal engraving? Unfortunately we do not offer personal engraving at this stage. This is something that we are looking into and hope to offer this service in the future.

Is there a warranty for the journal? Archive Journals are designed to last your lifetime and be passed on to future generations for hundreds of years to come. We stand behind the materials we have chosen and the production techniques we use and offer a lifetime warranty on all Archive Journals covering any defects in materials or workmanship.