Curated collections

Take a road trip of discovery with Warren Brown as he reveals a fascinating mix of national treasures drawn from collections across Australia.

Warren Brown reveals the emotional lives of Australian prime ministers through 12 objects they used every day or otherwise adored.

This collection celebrates the work of the McDonagh sisters. In the 1920s, they became the first women to own and operate a film production company in Australia.

The 1960s was one of the most tumultuous and divisive decades in world history – including in Australia.

This collection of Cadbury advertisements provides a wonderful snapshot of the changing attitudes towards dating, romance and fun in Australia from the 1950s to the 1970s. 

See rare videos, costumes, props, interviews, music, posters, photographs, scripts and production documents relating to the landmark Australian film.

How have video games intersected with Australian popular culture since the 1970s?

Ten sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance have been added to Sounds of Australia for 2019. 

Jack Grimsley is responsible for some of the most recognisable Australian music of the 1960s and '70s.

Australian filmmakers have produced their fair share of movies featuring zombies, vampires and ghosts – as well as marsupial werewolves, mutant pigs and murderous crocodiles.

These 24 glass slides show detailed plans of an alternative design for the city of Canberra.

Forty years after Simon Townsend's Wonder World! first went to air on 3 September 1979, we celebrate this landmark children's TV program.

There are over 1,000 Australian animated short films in the NFSA collection, with the earliest here dating back to the 1920s. 

Selected from the Film Australia Collection, the clips in this collection show everyday Australians at work in a variety of contexts.

This collection features sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance that are by or about First Nations Australians.

Highlighting short films by First Nations filmmakers including Wayne Blair, Beck Cole, Ivan Sen, and Warwick Thornton.

This collection celebrates the women who played an important professional role during Australia’s early years of radio broadcasting.

Hailed as Australia's finest singer, John Farnham's career spans 6 decades and has touched music, theatre, television and film. 

Enjoy more collection items celebrating Australian music legend, the one and only John Farnham.

'What's that, Skip? You've been an Australian icon for how long?!'.

Even more collection items celebrating the 1960s adventures of Skippy and Sonny in Waratah National Park.

With its warm climate and spectacular beaches, the Gold Coast has been a major holiday destination since the 1950s. 

Take your front row seat for this collection which illuminates postwar Australia through glorious vintage fashion.

Welcome to the world of The Dressmaker, where haute couture and the Australian outback are brilliantly combined.