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Feb 2018
A pink and grey Astor 7 transistor radio from the 1950s or 1960s

Top 40 radio turns 60

Sixty years ago this month, the Top 40 pop chart helped bring the golden age of radio to a close and kickstarted a new era.

By Chris Arneil / 28 Feb 2018
Oral History
Radio
Merle Oberon reclining on a chaise longue

Merle Oberon: The Lost Tasmanian

On her birthday, we share images of Merle Oberon from the NFSA's Taussig Film Stills Collection. Publicity for the Hollywood star always claimed she was born in Tasmania but a different story emerged after her death.

By Tenille Hands / 16 Feb 2018
Film
Photographs
Jan 2018
Mia Wasikowska leads a camel in the ocean in a scene from the film Tracks

Matt Nettheim in Starstruck

Matt Nettheim shares insights into his work as on-set stills photographer on films featured in the Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits exhibition.

By Jessica Bolton / 17 Jan 2018
Film
Photographs
Dec 2017
Margaret Pomeranz at the Starstruck exhibition. She's posing with the Priscilla thong dress for a TV crew.

We were starstruck in 2017

In 2017 we found new and exciting ways to connect with our audiences through festivals, programs and special events. Here's a look back at some of the highlights.

By Adam Blackshaw / 22 Dec 2017
Photographs
Deborah Mailman singing on stage in a still from the film The Sapphires

2017 at the NFSA

The NFSA collects tens of thousands of items every year. What were some of the highlights for 2017?

By Adam Blackshaw / 19 Dec 2017
Film
Oral History
Posters
Radio
Sound
Television
Oct 2017
Double sepia head and shoulders portrait of a woman with flowers in her hair

Starstruck casting books

These 1930s Cinesound casting books form the heart of the NFSA and National Portrait Gallery collaborative exhibition, 'Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits'.

By Jennifer Coombes / 31 Oct 2017
Object
Photographs
Black and white glass slide of a person with a sheet over their head pretending to be a ghost

19th century ghost photos

These 19th century photographic glass slides purport to show images of both the living and the dead.

By Adam Blackshaw / 27 Oct 2017
Photographs
Sep 2017
Frame capture of a woman in a hallway with superimposed starbursts across her body

Killer cans and Babe: Making Optical Effects

Roger Cowland recalls his work in film optical effects on films like Babe and Mad Max.

By Nathan Smith / 20 Sep 2017
Film
Oral History
Hugo Weaving as a country town police officer in a still from the film The Dressmaker

Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits

Dr Jenny Gall, Assistant Curator Documents and Artefacts, previews the forthcoming NFSA-National Portrait Gallery exhibition, Starstruck: Australian Movie Portraits.

By Jenny Gall / 5 Sep 2017
Photographs
A packed stadium of people witnessing the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Matilda the huge mascot of the games is on the field along with lots of school children.

Reliving the 1980s

Our 100th curated collection is all about the 1980s, and it stars Charles and Diana, Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Edna Everage, David Attenborough, Linda Burney, Ken Done, Michael Hutchence and many, many more.

By Beth Taylor / 4 Sep 2017
Film
Photographs
Television