Life on the home front

Australians responded to the declaration of war in August 1914 with enthusiasm. Volunteers rushed to enlist, eager to share in the action and adventure, many believing it would be over by Christmas. Others formed committees to raise funds for the troops.

This collection portrays life on the home front. In between fundraising efforts and the manufacture of bullet cartridges are images of distractions from the war like shopping, weddings and sporting events. You can see the first Anzac Day, a propaganda cartoon and a pro-conscription film featuring Prime Minister Billy Hughes.

This collection also reflects a society in transition - notably with expanded opportunities for women while the men were fighting overseas.

Fundraising for the war effort

This film from c1916 features various wartime fundraising and recruitment activities.

It was shot from outside the General Post Office in Martin Place, Sydney, after rain.

‘Australia prepared’ – making ammunition

Many of the factory’s workers are women, symbolising a community united in the war effort and highlighting women’s vital contributions on the home front.

New furs from Georges

While a bitter war raged on the other side of the world, some wealthy Melbourne residents carried on with their lives just as usual.

Patriotic Football

Playing and watching sport became contentious issues in Australian society during the First World War. The middle and upper classes believed that, although sporting activities taught useful social

Even Major-Generals die in battle

The sombre 1915 funeral procession of Major-General Sir William Bridges, killed in action at the Dardenelles. Filmed in Melbourne after Bridges’ body arrived home months after his death.

Society Wedding

This rare example of amateur or home movie footage provides a glimpse of a society wedding about 1914, probably in an eastern suburb of Sydney.

Distraction from the war – a day at the beach

This brief clip from around 1914 is one of few surviving film records of Australian beach scenes from this period.

The campaign that failed

Conscription was introduced by law in New Zealand. However, Australians were able to vote on introducing conscription in a referendum in October 1916.

The wounded return home to Australia

When sick and wounded soldiers left the battlefield they were out of immediate danger, but were not entirely safe until they reached their final destination.

The First Anzac Day

The very first Anzac Day was held on 13 October 1915.

Melbourne Cup, 1915

The Great War did not succeed in killing interest in horseracing in Australia. The 1915 Melbourne Cup was filmed and screened less than 24 hours after the race.

Tamworth celebrates the 8-hour day and war efforts

Rain poured and cold winds blustered, but that didn’t dampen Tamworth’s annual 8 hour day festivities and patriotic parade on 23 October 1916.

Brave Women Who Wait

For the war effort to be successful, it was not only men who needed to be recruited.

Sheep dogs, medieval knights and vale Victor Trumper

The Australian Gazette was typical of multi-part silent newsreels, with a mix of serious and lighter news coverage, that kept people at home informed during the First World War.

Boxing and Recruiting

On 31 July 1915 Darcy defended his world middleweight title against American Eddie McGoorty. This was filmed and used in the recruitment campaign.

Triangle Films

The arrival of a shipment of US films in Sydney in 1916 confirmed that Hollywood had won Australian hearts.

Distraction from the war - Coogee Beach

Scenes of surf, sun and swimming at Coogee Beach, Sydney, played upon the sea as a place of recreation in stark contrast to the suffering at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.