1970s

The 1970s were bold, brash and transformative. This collection captures the shocks and shifts – Whitlam’s dismissal, Mardi Gras protests, the invention of the Fairlight synthesizer, John Farnham’s early career. Culture got raunchy with AC/DC, Cold Chisel and Number 96, while the Sydney Opera House became a global icon. But the decade was also scarred by crisis, from political upheaval to the devastation of Cyclone Tracy. The ’70s brought protest, polyester, power chords and plenty of shock to the system.

Please be advised that this page contains names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.