Drop-in Docos

A snapshot into the formative years of one of Australia’s most prestigious universities.

Important not only to Canberrans but to the nation as a leading research institution, the Australian National University celebrates its 80-year anniversary. This 1956 film offers a time capsule of the scope and variety of postgraduate research undertaken at the time. Heads of departments outline their work across their fields, and the film also features Prime Minister Chifley laying the foundation stone of the Research School of Physical Sciences, alongside physicist Sir Marcus Oliphant.

Produced by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit for The Australian National University. An Australian National Film Board Production, Department of the Interior. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

A Place of Your Own: The Squat
1980 | Not Classified | 19 mins | AUS | D: Macek Rubetzki, Chris Tillam, Dasha Ross

The Squat explores the challenges faced by a growing number of young people experiencing homelessness after leaving refuges that only provide short-term accommodation.

Australian Commonwealth Film Unit Production. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

A Place to Live
1972 | Not Classified | 12 mins | AUS | D: Stuart Glover

A film made for immigrants to Australia, illustrating the kinds of housing options available across Australia.

Australian Commonwealth Film Unit Production. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Time and Place
1970 | Not Classified | 15 mins | AUS | D: Philip Mark Law

A wordless study of Australian architecture and its influence on living conditions, past and present

Australian Commonwealth Film Unit Production. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

A series of seven five-minute films directed by women, created to mark Australia’s Bicentenary in 1988, celebrating the achievements of Australian women and their contributions to the nation’s social and welfare development.

1. Watch Out | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Tracey Moffat
Through dance, voice and photography, this powerful film tells the story of a talented young Aboriginal dancer, interwoven with the sombre history of Aboriginal women since European colonisation of Australia.

2. Breaking Through | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Christina Wilcox
From the harshness of the early pioneering days of isolation and lack of political power to the freedoms of work and leisure enjoyed today, this film presents a celebratory montage of archival and contemporary images of the achievements of Australian women.

3. Up In Arms | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Anna Grieve
During World Wars One and Two, women served in the Army, the Airforce, the factories and on the farms, while also maintaining the home front. They contributed to the war effort and continued to advocate for peace.

4. Home Truths | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Mary Callaghan, Kris Wyld
The management skills and versatility of the housewife and mother are inspiring, yet the quality and importance of this achievement is often underrated. This is a salute to the Australian housewife.

5. Fitting Image | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Liz Stroud
An exploration of the way women have flaunted, followed or thumbed their noses at fashion over the years.

6. Egg Heads | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Ruth Cullen
Women have sought to achieve status and influence in science and technology since the 1880s. Egg Heads shows Australian women’s wide range of diverse roles in the development of both areas.

7. Fire Eaters | 1987 | 5 mins | D: Jinks Dulhunty
They fly, they swing, they climb, they test themselves in all kinds of situations—the women who do daring physical deeds. For some it's a job, for others it's a passion and for the lone yachtswoman who circumnavigated the world, it was a dream come true.

A Film Australia Production. Fully funded by the Bicentennial Women's Program of The Australian Bicentennial Authority.

© National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Reputations and careers are on the line as Australian scientist Ted Steele takes on the establishment in a battle that could revolutionise the theory of evolution.

Charles Darwin started a revolution when he published his evolutionary theory in the late 1800s, challenging the belief that God created the world in seven days. Since then, Darwinian theory has become the accepted scientific doctrine but now an Australian scientist, Ted Steele, is stirring things up.

For years, Ted and his collaborators around the world have been researching ideas that challenge a fundamental principle of biology - the Weismann Barrier - and give new meaning to one of the most discredited theories in the history of science. Their proposition is based on the work of Jean Baptiste de Lamarck, published some 50 years before Darwin's The Origin of Species. The concept is that characteristics acquired during a lifetime could be passed on to the next generation. Ted is convinced that we can pass on these genetic improvements, such as stronger immunity, to our children.

A Film Australia National Interest Program in association with Stoney Creek Productions. Developed with the assistance of the Australian Film Commission. Produced with the assistance of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

The 74" Telescope at Mount Stromlo
1956 | Not Classified | 6 mins | AUS | D: Colin Dean

Scientific work undertaken at the Mount Stromlo Observatory in the 1950s.

Produced by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit for BBC Television. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Reaching for the Stars
1958 | Not Classified | 11 mins | AUS | D: Loch Townsend

Telescopes and astronomy equipment at Mount Stromlo and as well as other observatories.

Produced by the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit for the Australian National Film Board. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Australia in the International Geophysical Year
1959 | Not Classified | 35 mins | AUS | D: Loch Townsend

Australia’s participation in the International Geophysical Year showing the scope and variety of the scientific problems in which research was undertaken.

Produced by the Commonwealth Film Unit with the co-operation of The Australian Academy of Science. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Blending rare recordings of Australian birdsong and nature with synthesised music, this film celebrates the Australian landscape and its wildlife.

Kevin Peek, composer and guitarist with Sky, teams up with Mars Lasar, composer and Fairlight whiz, to take an experimental voyage of discovery into the untapped potential of the Australian continent. This beautifully crafted film interweaves the sounds of nature and song recordings of rare Australian birds—the Victoria’s Riflebird, Lyrebird and Emu among others—with synthesised music that celebrates the Australian landscape and its wildlife. Superbly photographed, Sounds Like Australia breaks new ground in bringing music and the natural world together.

Produced by Film Australia, the Production Division of the Australian Film Commission. © National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.