Sounding Australia

Marvels of technology

Except for an echo, only a recorded sound can be heard again. When contemplating that astonishing idea, we can begin to appreciate the degree to which sound technologies have fundamentally changed our society. Our own recorded sound history in Australia began with the arrival of gramophones and phonographs in the late 19th century. These marvels of technology used mechanical methods to capture patterns of sound waves, etching them onto physical media such as wax cylindersor later, vinyl records. This technological breakthrough allowed for the preservation and dissemination of music, voices, speeches, and other forms of audio that had previously been only transient and fleeting.

Read more about vintage sound equipment

Early recordings

Our Sounds of Australia capsule features many recordings that provide a glimpse into the voices of a world long past. In those annals of our recorded sound history, one event stands out as a quirky yet significant milestone: the ‘Hen Convention' (1896), in which raucous imitations of chickens became the subject of a pioneering audio experiment.

Other early treasures include the three-minute Edison Phonograph recording of Sir Ernest Shackletondescribing his Antarctic expedition. Renowned for his relentless pursuit of the unknown, Shackleton recounts the loss of his pony named Socks, who fell into a crevasse.

In this 1914 segment, we hear Second Lieutenant Henry Miller Lanie from the dusty environs of Mena Camp, Cairo. This is the only known audio of an Australian soldier poised to enter battle in the First World War. He was killed in action just a few years later.

And if you fast forward to 1958, you’ll hear a wonderful excerpt from an elderly Dorothy McKellarreading the first stanza of her 1904 homesick poem ‘My Country’ (first line: 'I love a sunburnt country'). A striking element in all these vocal examples is how they areimbued with emotion, cadence and nuance, carrying the essence of a time and a place.

Our selection also features a precious record of First Nations cultural heritage and linguistic diversity. One extraordinary entry is that of Fanny Smith, the last fluent speaker of any of the original Tasmanian languages. This recording from 1903 is a remarkable auditory window into a lost world but also a sombre reminder of the devastating impact of colonialism on Indigenous populations.

The sound of speeches 

Recorded sound allows us to experience pivotal moments in history. As we listen to stirring speeches – whether fervent calls to action or impassioned pleas for justice – we can begin to understand the profound implications sound recordings have had on politics and their ability to transcend the limitations of text or still imagery.

The NFSA capsule holds several speeches that shaped Australia. This includes Robert Menzies’ solemn 1939 announcement that Great Britain has declared war, and therefore Australia is also at war. There is also Julia Gillard’s celebrated misogyny speech (2012), which inspired public discussion about sexism and women in the workplace. Perhaps the most iconic speech of these, however, is the Gough Whitlam dismissal speech (1975), marking one of the most controversial events in Australian political history.

Sounds from the sporting field

Sounds of Australia features memorable audio moments in sport that continue to shape our cultural identity. Take, for instance, this recording of a young Don Bradman speaking about his 1930s ashes tour, or the 1941 Melbourne Cup, as called by commentator Ken Howard. His voice was famous for making horse races vivid to the listener, employing turns of phrase to communicate the speed, the tension and the exhilaration of a great horse race.

The capsule also features a recording of highlights from the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the first Australian event to be covered extensively on both radio and television; and the 1968 radio broadcast of the bantamweight world title fight between First Nations boxer Lionel Rose and Masahiko Harada of Japan.

Read more about First Nations Sporting momentsand Australia’s Olympic achievements.

The sound of music 

Our Sounds of Australia capsule is a testament to the diverse forms of Australian musical expression, spanning various genres, mediums and periods. These include catchy jingles like the Aeroplane Jelly advertisement (1938), sports anthems such as ‘Up there Cazaly’ (1979), and film music classics like the theme from The Man from Snowy River (1982).

Our curated capsule proudly preserves some of the earliest musical recordings of women artists, such as the operatic soprano voice of Dame Nellie Melba. This early recording, as well as many others, helped democratise access to high art forms such as orchestral music and opera, making them accessible to a wider audience. 

Bush ballads and pubrock

Our national soundtrack includes pioneering bush ballads. These range from the humorous to the melancholic, but they are connected in the way they depict the life, character and scenery of the Australian bush. The most famous of these ballads is 'Waltzing Matilda' –often regarded as our unofficial national anthem.

And what about pub rock classics like Cold Chisel’s 'Khe Sanh' (1978), a song about the experience of the Vietnam War and the lingering aftereffects on those who served there? And in any discussion of epochal Aussie music, we must mention ‘Down Under’ (1981), which quickly reached number one in Australia, the UK and the USA. The song’s lyrics celebrate the natural beauty of the landscape and our laidback lifestyle, helping to sell an image of ourselves to the outside world.

While there are so many other worthy music examples, Yothu Yindi’s ‘Treaty’ (1991) deserves a special mention as an unforgettable protest song and scathing critique of Australia's political leaders for their failure to deliver on the promise of a treaty. The song’s use of Yolngu language, rhythms and instrumentation (such as the didgeridoo and clap sticks) help define a popular music sound that is unlike anything else and projects a powerful First Nations narrative.

Sounds of the landscape and nature

Some of the most moving recordings in the capsule are those of the Australian landscape, flora and fauna. These include mesmerisinghumpback whalesong recordings taken off the coast of Eastern Australia during their cycle of migration, and a male koala whose repeated snorts and grunty belches seek to impress a potential female partner.

Another striking example is of a lyrebird. These birds are incredible mimics and often imitate nature, but in this strange and rare recording, the lyrebird imitates an electronic computer game. These sounds are moving, connecting us to the Australian wildlife and habitats that must be conserved.

Sounding future

The Sounds of Australia gives access to a diverse collection of our recorded sound history. But countless other sonic items in the capsule deserve mention, including sounds for games, sound design for film and television, and sound art, to name a few.

In an era where sound recording information has become completely familiar, digitalarchiving is as essential as ever for preserving the vast quantities of sound data generated daily.Given many older sound technologies, such as magnetic tape, are deteriorating, there is an ongoing need to capture our audio heritage before it’s too late and it is lost forever. 

Dr John Milner completed his PhD at the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics in 2017 and has published extensively on Australian art, history and culture. His work is used as a teaching resource in various institutions across Australia and internationally. He grew up in rural NSW and also manages a working property outside Braidwood.

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