Tucked away in Canberra’s cultural hub is the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA).

CD delved into the space to see why the audiovisual cultural institution is so important to Canberrans, and more broadly, Australians.

Behind the scenes, the NFSA, previously known as the National Historical Film and Speaking Record Library, has collected, preserved and shared Australia’s audiovisual culture with the public for the past 90 years.

Not only can you look at significant items and images on display, but you can read a book in the library (upon request), watch a film at one of a number of cinemas or sit down to have a snack or drink.

The collection began in 1935, as one of the first audiovisual archives in the world, with some individual collection items dating back to the 1890s.

It was operated by the Commonwealth National Library until the NFSA became an independent cultural organisation in 1984.

NFSA chief curator Meagan Loader said the space told the Australian story through audiovisual media.

“Whether that’s film, television, radio, podcasts, music, videogames, social media or the supporting items that contextualise them like scripts, posters, costumes and photos,” she said.

Ms Loader said there were endless items of significance in the institution’s vaults.

“Where do I start? We hold hundreds of thousands of stories at our Acton headquarters and in our vaults at Mitchell,” she said.

“Including the earliest known audio recorded in Australia (The Hen Convention, recorded in 1896) and Australia’s earliest surviving film, known as Patineur Grotesque, which looks like a very early TikTok — it’s a man rollerskating in Prince Alfred Park in Sydney.

“We hold the remaining fragments of the world’s first feature film — The Story of the Kelly Gang (released in 1906), and the only sound recordings of Fanny Cochrane Smith, the last known fluent speaker of any of the Tasmanian Aboriginal languages.”

Ms Loader said other items held at the NFSA include the first script of Australian drama television series Neighbours, the Aeroplane Jelly jingle, Muriel’s wedding dress (from the 1994 film Muriel’s Wedding), colour footage of Don Bradman playing cricket, wax cylinder recordings of Central Australian Aboriginal communities from 1901, Skippy, the song of a lyrebird, Annette Kellerman doing underwater ballet, colourised film of the last captive thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) and vintage Australian videogames like The Hobbit.

She said visitors to the NFSA could currently see iconic costumes worn by Paul Hogan in the Crocodile Dundee film series, the original script for spring which was initially written as the pilot episode for Skippy and the costume worn by Miranda in the Picnic at Hanging Rock film (released in 1975).

She said the NFSA was important to Canberrans, and more widely nationally, because it allowed the future generations to get a picture of how Australian creativity has developed, while also sharing stories with Australians now.

“Our historic building is beloved by Canberra audiences, and it’s been exciting over the past couple of years to renew our public spaces so we can offer more free installations, live music and special film events and become more of a vibrant and creative hub that responds to the way Canberrans want to use it,” Ms Loader said.

“We curate our cinema program so there’s something for everyone, from the most passionate cinephile to budding film fans in the school holidays.

“But we exist for all Australians, so our digital home at nfsa.gov.au is a huge source of stories, entertainment and information that you can enjoy wherever you are.”

Canberra Daily would love to hear from you about a story idea in Canberra and the surrounding region. Click here to submit a news tip.

Feeling social? Follow Canberra Daily: Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | Tik Tok | YouTube