The collection provides a comprehensive record of the Greenpeace campaign and the international negotiations that took place in the 1980s to protect Antarctica in perpetuity as a reserve for science, wildlife, wilderness and peace. Antarctic themes covered by the collection include the impact of climate change, waste management, mineral exploration, wildlife protection, fishing and whaling, marine oil pollution, the environmental impact of scientific research, tourism, legal issues and the future of the Antarctic Treaty System. The collection documents Greenpeace's Antarctic Expeditions, Australia's Antarctic policy, national Antarctic research programs, and the lobbying work of other non-government organisations.
The records of the GPA Head Office, in Sydney, include files on a range of administrative and policy matters reflecting the organisation's internal operations, its campaign activities, legal issues as well as its relationship with Greenpeace International.