Mary Narelle, was born Mary Ryan at the Combaning Sheep Station near Temora, NSW, to parents of Irish descent.

The J W. ' Excursion to London’ is a panoramic theatrical toy made from simple materials: cardboard, paper, wood, string, wax and paint.

Syria Lamonte (1869-1935) is the earliest known Australian performer to make a commercial recording. Lamonte was born Sarah Cohen in Sydney and arrived in London in 1896.

This actuality footage from 1899 shows the unloading of timber spars from the SS Katoomba at a busy wharf in Brisbane.

In 1979 two young Australians invented the first Fairlight sampling synthesizer and changed electronic music forever. We have one in working condition!

Through this glass slide we catch a glimpse of a European perspective of Australia, circa 1895.

The first known Australian to make a commercially released recording, the long forgotten Syria Lamonte, is now preserved by the NFSA thanks to the kind donation of an 1898 recording acquired by Roger Neill.

Film curator Sally Jackson investigates the makers of the world's first cricket films, shot in Australia in 1897.

Curator Sally Jackson researches famous faces and fashions of the 1896 Melbourne Cup.

Famous faces and fashions of the 1896 Melbourne Cup.