Close up of a round fire pit or kettle barbecue

The Australian BBQ

An homage to the humble Aussie barbecue

The Aussie barbecue is a timeless ritual that is ingrained in our culture. Cooking over a sizzling hot grill in the great outdoors has become part of our national identity and has been used in film, television, music and advertising as a backdrop for events great and small.

Barbecuing is a tradition that bridges cultural differences and brings people together. It is a vehicle for family bonding, community spirit and often for comic relief.

The following collection of film, television and sound items, while vastly different from one another, all embrace a common element – the barbecue.

A young aboriginal woman sitting in a living room of a house with a typical white family - two parents with son and daughter.

Babakiueria: 'This strange and fascinating people'

Presenter Duranga Manika (Michelle Torres) describes her fascination with white people and their customs and explains how she spent six months living with a ‘typical white family’ (Tony Barry, Ceci

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons

Queen Elizabeth II wearing a white hat and jacket, meeting and accepting flowers from a crowd of people.

Seven News Perth: Great Aussie BBQ for The Queen

Seven News reporter Chris Reason follows Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for the final day of their 11-day tour of Australia in 2011 on which they are treated to the most Australia

Actor Glenn Robbins dressed in character as Uncle Arthur, wearing glasses and a hearing aid and fake moustache. He is standing next to a film projector and holding a tray of biscuits.

The Comedy Company: Uncle Arthur's home movies

In this clip from Series 1, Episode 11 of The Comedy Company, Uncle Arthur (Glenn Robbins) screens a home movie of a backyard BBQ.

Paul Hogan holds up a prawn to camera while talking. Delvene Delaney looks on lovingly with her hand on his shoulder.

Shrimp on the barbie - Paul Hogan

Before Paul Hogan (affectionately known as Hoges) became Mick Dundee in Crocodile Dundee (Peter Faiman, Australia, 1986) he starred in a series of tourism ads designed by the Australian To

A close up of a barbeque grill with sausages, steaks and onions cooking on it. In the centre is a man's forearm and hand holding a pair of tongs.

Centennial Park: BBQ in the Park

In this short excerpt from the film Centennial Park (1979) we see a few families and groups of people enjoying a picnic in the park, making use of the public barbecuing areas and enjoying

Four men standing around a BBQ. One is playing a guitar and one is holding some BBQ tongs.

A Current Affair: Tips for your summer BBQ

In this quirky A Current Affair story from reporter Howard Gipps, he catches up with 'The Barbecue King', barbecue teacher and cookbook author Kim Terakis, who gives us some easy recipes f

Three people standing in front of a barbecue in the snowfields. They are holding drinks and smiling at the camera.

BBQ in the Snow

This short home movie from The Perisher Historical Society depicts a group of people having a barbecue, skiing and enjoying the wintry conditions at Charlotte's Pass, proving that the Aussie barbie

Actor David Gulpilil and another Aboriginal man sitting on the ground in the outback. Gulpilil is holding some kindling which is alight.

Walkabout to Hollywood: Fire

In this short excerpt David Gulpilil is seen in the outback catching birds and then cooking them over an open fire, in the same way that his ancestors have always done.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following program may contain images and/or audio of deceased persons

Wide shot of TV studio set up in a country style with trees and hay bales. A large sign says 'Bar 9' and a group of people sit around a man in a chef's hat sitting near a BBQ.

Swallows Parade Spectacular Around the BBQ with Bert Newton

This clip is from an early variety/talent show hosted by Bert Newton. In this episode, the contestants perform in a barbecue setting with the other contestants looking on.

Album cover that reads 'Aussie Christmas with Bucko & Champs' written in colourful letters. Below the headline are the faces of radio personalities Colin Buchanan and Greg Champion wearing Santa hats and holly-shaped bow ties.

'Australians Let Us Barbecue' by Bucko and Champs

'Australians Let Us Barbecue' is a comedy song with lyrics written by radio duo Bucko and Champs and sung to the tune of 'Advance Australia Fair'.

Television host Reg Lindsay and another man wearing an apron and chefs hat, standing behind a barbeque grill. A group of young men and women are seated in the background.

Country and Western Hour: Barbeque Show

This clip is from a BBQ-themed episode of the country music program, hosted by Reg Lindsay.

A young woman and young man standing in an outdoor setting in front of a barbecue holding a plate of food. There are other young people socialising in the background.

Brylcreem Hair Product: Barbecue (1961)

The Brylcreem advertising campaign of the early 1960s focused on the chemistry of 'boy meets girl'.

A group of young men and boys are building a backyard BBQ using cement besser blocks

Sid Bennetts Home Movie: Building a Backyard Barbecue

In this short excerpt from a home movie donated to the NFSA by amateur filmmaker Sid Bennetts, we see a group of young men and boys building a barbecue in their backyard.

The Aussie Barbecue Song by Frankie Davidson

'The Aussie Barbecue Song' does what Australians tend to do best – poke fun at ourselves.

A man in a pink shirt and shorts stands beside a giant barbeque on wheels that he has just built.

Inventions from the Shed: BBQ

In this excerpt from Episode 4 of Inventions from the Shed (2004), Alf gets a giant appetite. When a tin of Spam just won't satisfy him, he builds a giant portable barbecue.