The national Archives have brought all their departments under one roof in a repurposed and renovated 1899 complex in Ljubljana that had served as an army barracks until Slovenia became independent in 1991.

The Archives of the Republic of Slovenia keep around 30,000 metres of archival material, with the oldest fragments dating back to the 9th century, according to director Andrej Nared.

The Austria-Hungary-era complex at the intersection of Poljanska and Roška Roads was allocated to the Archives and the Restoration Centre of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage by the government 30 years ago.

The eastern and western wings of the complex had been renovated by 2006 to house the Archives' depot and the Restoration Centre, while the main, northern wing had been left to ruin until renovation began two years ago after the government secured €14 million in funding.

Before relocation, the Archives had had their main headquarters at the Gruber Mansion in the Prule borough for seven decades, but that becoming too small, their departments operated from several locations in the capital.

Speaking to reporters at the inauguration of the new premises on 15 November, Archives director Nared said this is the first time since 1990 that all employees are under one roof.

The renovated premises also feature an exhibition space, a reading room, restoration and conservation workshops, a library, offices, and a parking area.

Inaugurating the renovated building, Culture Minister Asta Vrečko noted that the country's top archival institution keeps all the nation's history, the foundations of its statehood and the documents that had led to it and up to this day.

The extensive complex had served as an army barracks during the rule of Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav federation as well as housing Italian, German and homeguard units during the Second World War.

Three years before Slovenia became independent massive demonstrations were held outside the compound in support of journalist-turned-politician Janez Janša and co-defendants who were tried there by a court martial for allegedly leaking a military document in a case known as the JBTZ process, which became the catalyst for the independence movement.

During the war in the former Yugoslavia, the complex served as accommodation for refugees. It was then transferred to the Culture Ministry, while the separate, southwestern section where Janša was tried has been housing a secondary school since 1995.