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Naming the Federal Capital of Australia, March 12th 1913 Official guests and members of the public gather near the commencement stone

Naming the Federal Capital of Australia, March 12th 1913 Prime Minister Andrew Fisher leads the cheers alongside Lady Denman and King O'Malley (right)

Naming the Federal Capital of Australia, March 12th 1913 Colonel David Miller and Prime Minister Andrew Fisher prior to the ceremony

Naming the Federal Capital of Australia, March 12th 1913 Guests with Model T Fords travelling to the ceremony

Collection highlight: Naming the Federal Capital of Australia, March 12th 1913

On the morning of Wednesday 12 March 1913, 500 invited guests, over 700 mounted and artillery troops and a public crowd of over 3000 locals came to witness the formal naming of Canberra. Read more on the NFSA blog.

About the Film Collection

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Wake in Fright

The story behind the discovery, preservation and successful re-release of a classic Australian film.

Restoration

Rediscovering Mangiamele

Bringing to life the work of a forgotten Italian Australian filmmaker.

Restoration

Corrick Collection

Restoring the surviving 130 films exhibited by the Australian-based Corrick Family Entertainers.

Search and rescue

Australia's 'Lost' Films

The NFSA is searching for lost films. Can you help?

Restoration

Jedda

Restoring a 1950s Australian screen classic for DVD release.

Explore the collection

Marius Sestier Collection

This collection includes Australia’s earliest surviving films.

Restoration

For the Term of His Natural Life

Restoring and reconstructing the landmark 1927 Australian feature.

Restoration

The Sentimental Bloke

Restoring The Sentimental Bloke for DVD release.

Restoration

The Story of the Kelly Gang

Restoring the world’s first feature-length narrative movie.

About the Film Collection

The NFSA’s holdings of features, documentaries, shorts, experimental and new technology productions include a significant collection of works relating to Australia and produced by Australians.

Films range from the earliest surviving footage of the Melbourne Cup (1897) and the first acknowledged feature film produced anywhere in the world, The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), to newsreels that provided the Australian public with up-to-date news up till the 1970s, and the Australian film productions of most recent decades – including the newest digital forms – such as the award-winning Animal Kingdom (2010). These film holdings form an essential part of the NFSA’s mission to reflect and celebrate not only the past and the present but the also the future.

With over 300,000 film works in the national collection, the Australian experience of cinema is also reflected in its diverse representation of international classics. These range from Gone with the Wind (1939) to the Corrick Collection of early international film programs, to Australian and international production partnerships such as Wake in Fright (1971). Exciting restoration, research and programming projects continue to emerge from the collection that grows along with the film industry it represents.

You can view a curated selection of Australian feature films, shorts, documentaries, home movies, newsreels and actualities on australianscreen: