This film shows an idyllic picture of life in the Victorian capital of Melbourne in the mid 1960s.

Part of the Life In Australia series, made for the Department of Immigration, to entice immigrants from Europe. There’s no denying that these films were a marketing tool; Australia (and its cities and rural centres) was the product, and as such, it was presented as an idyllic destination where everyone led prosperous, happy lives.

Despite the nostalgia generated by these images of a recent past – the ‘good old days’ – it is important to understand the context in which the films were made. It was the last years of the ‘White Australia’ policy, and the government wanted to attract (mostly British) migrants. Inclusiveness was not the goal, and anything that didn’t fit into the perfect postcard image was left out of these films. It’s the TV sitcom version of a complex country going through a transformative period.

The 1960s was a time of change around the world, and Australia was no exception. The Vietnam War sparked social unrest and protests challenging Australia’s participation in the conflict. There are no Indigenous people in any of these films, at the time when Charles Perkins embarked on the Freedom Ride, and only a couple of years before the landmark 1967 referendum. Women’s rights movements were also transforming Australian society, yet in these films women only play traditional roles: employed in ‘women’s jobs’ until they ‘graduated’ from working life through marriage, to become devoted housewives.

These films are fascinating examples of the 1950s-60s government filmmaking style, and capture different aspects of the Australian experience 50 years ago. They may not represent 100% of what life in Australia was, but they do capture the spirit of a nation aspiring to fulfil its potential.

The female lead is played by Adelaide born actress Elspeth Ballantyne, who would find success in the ABC soap opera Bellbird (1967-77), followed by the iconic role of Meg Jackson/Morris in Prisoner (1979-1986).

Each film in the series covers employment, industry, education, sport, health care, shopping, religion, night-life, and art.

Directed by Douglas White and now available in 4K HD. Film Australia Collection © NFSA.

Buy a copy of Life In Australia: Melbourne or of the whole Life In Australia series at the NFSA online shop.

Notes by Miguel Gonzalez

Its famous Opera House was still under construction, but Australia's largest city was already a busy metropolis in 1966.

Sydney's population had just reached three million, and while its skyline was not as tall as it is today, it was already on its way to become a modern city. The film visits all of Sydney's most iconic locations, from its beautiful harbour to Circular Quay, Martin Place, Kings Cross and Bondi beach.

Part of the Life In Australia series, made for the Department of Immigration, to entice immigrants from Europe. There’s no denying that these films were a marketing tool; Australia (and its cities and rural centres) was the product, and as such, it was presented as an idyllic destination where everyone led prosperous, happy lives.

The scripts for each film are almost identical, covering employment and industry, education, sport, health care, shopping, religion, night-life, and art. Australia had everything anyone could wish for!

Directed by Joe Scully and now available in 4K HD. Film Australia Collection © NFSA.

Buy a copy of Life In Australia: Sydney or of the whole Life In Australia series at the NFSA online shop.

Episode 1 of the Life in Australia series.

This series was made to encourage immigration to Australia and to highlight the various social activities, employment and educational opportunities and lifestyles of the various cities and regional centres throughout Australia.

This film shows an idyllic picture of life in the Queensland capital of Brisbane in the mid 1960s.

Made by the Commonwealth Film Unit 1964. Directed by Robert Parker and now available in 4K HD. 

Film Australia Collection © NFSA. Buy a copy of Life In Australia: Brisbane or of the whole Life In Australia series at the NFSA online shop.

The festival city, where horses roam free at the beach. Wait, what!?

Perth is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney. They also have great ice cream!

Warning: this film contains images of delicious food, particularly chocolate, which may be dangerous to your diet.

Features the famous Cadbury chocolate factory in Claremont, water sports and the beloved Cat and the Fiddle clock.

Sports cars, sheep and cattle. Just another day in Mount Gambier.

The Ford factory in Geelong, which operated from 1925 to October 2016, is prominently featured in this film.

Impossible not to love this girl's artistic interpretation of 'the land of many crows', Wagga Wagga!

Life in Cairns is 'sort of relaxed', says the narrator.

From 7 inhabitants in 1850 to 7,000 a century later, Geraldton was 'on the move' in the 1960s!

They didn't have a drone, but that didn't stop the filmmakers from shooting this great aerial view from a moving ferris wheel!