The Archives Department functions as the corporate memory of the Royal Children's Hospital.   The hospital was one of the first in Victoria to recognise the need for managing its historical records and established a part-time Archivist position in 1983.  The Archives also provides advice to internal departments on the retention, disposal and storage of administrative records in accordance with the Public Records Act. The department is supported by an advisory committee.

The archival collection consists of the existing administrative records of the hospital executive, nursing administration and training records, complete sets of annual reports of both the hospital and affiliated groups such as research, auxiliaries and volunteers, biographical material on a large number of medical, nursing and executive staff, a wonderful photograph collection of over 12,000 images, oral history tapes and some historical films and videos.

The Archives continues to be an invaluable resource to a wide range of both internal and external researchers.  Many of these resources were pulled together by Dr. Peter Yule to publish a substantial history of the hospital in 1999. (available from the RCH Auxiliaries shop and Shop Online) and by Margaret McInnes in 2006, with her comprehensive history of nursing at the RCH. (available from the Auxiliaries Office). 

The RCH Historical Room, used extensively for meetings within the hospital, houses a small museum collection of artefacts and a selection of photographs and other memorabilia for which the Archivist is responsible. 

Another important role of the Archives Department is to maintain a register and control the movement and maintenance of the hospital's valuable artworks and cultural assets collection.