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Mar 2019
An aerial shot of a hotel and railway line in a vast expanse of outback, in a scene from the 1971 film Wake in Fright

Wake in Fright: 2009 Restoration

For years the negative of Wake in Fright (1971) was thought to be lost forever. Here is the story behind the restoration and re-release of the classic Australian film.

Film
A partly colourised photo of a nautical-themed float in a 1930s street parade. On the float a woman dressed in white sits on a large-scale model of a sea creature.

Australia in Colour

The NFSA provided nearly three-quarters of the footage used in the groundbreaking four-part series Australia in Colour.

Film
Television
Nov 2018
NFSA Stories banner

NFSA Stories: Outback geologist

Dr Charles Gower was delighted to watch himself in a government documentary, 45 years after it was filmed.

By Amanda Diaz / 5 Nov 2018
Film
Oct 2018
The Sydney Opera House is festooned with red ribbons. There are many boats on the water in front of it.

Sydney Opera House Opening

Photographs, news and home movie footage capture the excitement of the opening of the Sydney Opera House, 45 years ago on 20 October 1973.

By Beth Taylor / 16 Oct 2018
Film
Photographs
Television
Aug 2018
Actor Heath Ledger striking a dramatic pose with his arms out, one leg up in the air and his mouth open wide and eyes shut. He is in a yellow kitchen.

Heath Ledger exhibition

Audiences are about to discover the man behind the camera in the NFSA’s new exhibition Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures.

By Miguel Gonzalez / 7 Aug 2018
Film
Jul 2018
Die-cast scale model of a cream-coloured FJ Holden panel van used by Cinesound Review

Model 'Newsfront' Holden Panel Van

We've recently acquired a die-cast model of a Cinesound Film Unit FJ Holden panel van, similar to that featured in the classic Australian film Newsfront.

By Jessica Bolton / 24 Jul 2018
Film
Object
Jun 2018
Wendy Hughes and Judy Davis seated on a couch talking in a still from My Brilliant Career

My Brilliant Career

The empowering 1979 classic Australian film My Brilliant Career has been digitally restored as part of the NFSA Restores program.

By Jenny Gall / 8 Jun 2018
Film
Jun 2017
Filmmakers Margot Nash, Megan Mcmurchy, Jeni Thornley and Margot Oliver standing in front of a wall smiling for the camera.

Feminist Filmmakers

Feminist films from the 1970s, 80s and 90s still resonate today.

By Heather Gill / 5 Jun 2017
Film
Feb 2017

Cricket legends in action, 100 years later

We had to build a custom-made device and photograph 465 frames in order to bring back to life a 1901 Kinora cricket film!

By Miguel Gonzalez / 21 Feb 2017
Film
Object
Dec 2016

2016 at the NFSA

The NFSA collects tens of thousands of items every year. What were some of the highlights for 2016?

By Adam Blackshaw / 23 Dec 2016
Documents
Film
Object
Oral History
Photographs
Radio
Sound
Television