All sponsored films
109 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year prev 1 2 3 next
1920s
The Australian Steel Works c1920
This Made in Australia Council documentary, made circa 1920, tours a steel works factory in Newcastle to promote the Australian steel industry.
A Shining Example c1920
Unlike other films produced by the Made in Australia Council, A Shining Example juxtaposes a tour of an Australian factory with a fictional narrative.
Sewerage of a Great City: Melbourne c1922
By the time this sponsored documentary was made, over 166,000 homes and 70,000 people were, according to its intertitles, 'enjoying the benefits of sewerage’ in Melbourne.
The Origin of Oil c1923
Made for the Shell Company of Australia, this industrial documentary traces the path of oil from its initial extraction to the petroleum relied on by consumers.
Boots and Shoes c1924
This film shows the inner workings of a boot and shoe factory, following the manufacturing process from cutting shoe patterns to the finished product.
Sheep to Shop: Hosiery and Knitted Goods 1924
At one point in this promotional documentary, a machine miraculously 'absorbs yarn at one end and discharges socks at the other’!
Sheep to Shop: Woollen Goods 1924
Made inside a wool mill, this film covers making the yarn, weaving the fabrics, pressing the finished goods and packaging them for distribution nationwide.
South Melbourne Methodist Mission News c1924
From the early 20th century, Christian welfare organisations have used films like this to highlight their work within the Australian community.
An Australian Invention: Falkiner Cane Harvester in Operation c1925
This film, possibly made by the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation, promotes the use of the mechanical harvester – a real innovation at the time.
Building a Motor Body c1925
The South Australian Government commissioned this promotional film to attract workers to the Woodville car plant; at the time, the second largest in the British Empire.
Building a Railway Engine c1925
The state government commissioned this short film showing work at the South Australian Railways engine construction and repair plant outside Adelaide.
The Evolution of a Chocolate 1925
The chocolate factory which features in this film employed over 2,000 people and – according to the intertitles – was one of 'the best producers of chocolates’.
Factory to Farm: Making Agricultural Implements in Australia c1925
This film provides a visual record of the inner workings of an agricultural implements factory as well as the role of sheet metal workers and fitters and turners.
A Day at an Engineering Works c1926
This Made in Australia Council documentary details work at the largest engineering works in South Australia at the time.
Peach Growing and Canning in Australia c1926
At the time the film was made, the Leeton State Canning Factory employed approximately 250 people and processed 120 tonnes of fruit a day.
A Visit to Ernest Hillier’s Factory c1926
This documentary details the delicate work and attention to detail required when producing handmade chocolates and sweets for Australian consumers.
Federal Capital Commission: Anti-Fly Campaign c1928
This public relations film explains an anti-fly campaign. It depicts a series of familiar situations in which flies are present and demonstrates acceptable methods of dealing with them.
1930s
Victorian Police Radio Patrol c1931
This short dramatised scenario from 1931 demonstrates how wireless technology and morse radio clearly improve the ability of Victorian police to do their jobs.
A Day in a Biscuit Factory 1932
While not the film’s primary intention, it offers an interesting examination of the division of labour and factory-line production processes in a 1930s biscuit factory.
Home c1936
Dedicated to 'home builders and home lovers everywhere’, this film looks at the changing landscape in house building from the first settlers to modern homeowners.
Safety First c1936
This early road safety film uses drama, artwork and song to show children the correct way to behave when on the road.
Silver City 1936
This film is narrated with Frank Hurley’s typical flamboyance and presents mining as instrumental to maintaining the livelihood of over 100,000 Australians.
Treasures of Katoomba 1936
Frank Hurley’s sense of adventure and eye for landscape composition is evident in this charming travelogue promoting tourism in the Blue Mountains.
The Growing Child 1938
What has changed in the last 70 years is how the public health message is delivered. Rather than highlight dire consequences, this short film positively reinforces correct behaviour.
A Brief Survey of the Activities of the Brisbane City Mission c1939
This is a moving portrait of the charity work of the Brisbane City Mission for the poor at a time when many people struggled financially because of the Depression.
Commonwealth Bank – Willie Wombat: Waste Not Want Not c1939
Willie Wombat was produced by Eric Porter – Australia’s first career animator – to promote the Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia’s School Banking program.
Isle of Many Waters 1939
The opening credits read 'a portrayal by Frank Hurley described by himself’ and contain the relaxed and descriptive narration style evident in many of his travelogues.
1940s
Browning Machine Gun c1940
An animated army training film that illustrates the operation of the Browning machine gun.
They Serve 1940
By the 1940s, the work of the Red Cross for the 'Australian soldier at home and abroad’ extended throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Through the Centre 1940
The Indian camel trader and the Japanese pearl diver become part of the film’s projection of the exotic within the expansive space of the Australian outback.
The Flying Doctor 1941
Through the work of the Australian Aerial Medical Service and their 'mantle of safety’, no-one in Australia is further than four hours from medical assistance.
Poisoned Daggers c1941
The evocative title lends a sense of drama to the message being conveyed: that the mosquito’s bite is a threat not just to the health of the community, but also the war effort.
Australia Post – Post Office Film 1942
This is a mute, black-and-white film record of the dismantling of the Sydney GPO clock tower to relocate communications equipment during the Second World War.
South-west Pacific 1943
During the Second World War, Chips Rafferty appeared in two short documentaries made for the federal government to support the domestic war effort.
Disturber of the Peace c1945
A short government announcement advising citizens to consider each other’s need for sleep and to keep noise levels low when others are sleeping.
The Constant Threat 1946
This short film promotes the importance of having a free chest x-ray, provided by the NSW Department of Public Health, to test for tuberculosis.
Beautiful Melbourne 1947
This film, put together by the Brotherhood of St Laurence in 1947, increased public awareness of the dire state of those living in slum housing in Melbourne.
Beyond the Furthest Fences 1947
This is an abridged version of the feature-length documentary The Inlanders. Both follow the Australian Inland Mission through central Australia in 1947.
Timber 1947
Timber communicates a romantic perspective of logging and the timber industry – both seen as having minimal negative environmental impact.
Birth of a Car c1948
Birth of a Car, made in 1948, proudly details the planning, testing and production of the first locally-manufactured Holden model sedan.
Green Heritage c1948
Green Heritage is a documentary aimed at viewers who care about subterranean clover, methods of pasture irrigation and the preferred grass for livestock.
Snowy Hydro - Where Giants Meet 1948
The film spends a lot of time singing the praises of the TD-24 bulldozer, but it’s also interesting as a recruitment tool for genuine high country bushmen.
Take the Tempo from the Teeth 1948
An early promotional film advocating milk as a key part of a balanced diet, with teeth acting as the barometer for good health.
These Are Our Children 1948
Through the lives of fictional siblings John and Molly, this film is an indictment of the social injustice facing Melbourne’s inner-city poor.
A Home of their Own 1949
A Home of their Own contrasts Ted and Mary’s overcrowded, inner-city housing with the 'Smith family’, who are lucky enough to live on a new suburban estate.
1950s
Eventide and Westbrook Farm Home: Brisbane City Mission 1950
This is one of a handful of films made by the Brisbane City Mission to promote its charity and social work assisting vulnerable members of the community.
Eyes Right c1950
A short public awareness film about the importance of eye health. It explains how our eyes function and how to protect them.
A Place to Live 1950
This Realist Film Unit documentary illustrates that the builders of homes belonging to the wealthy themselves live across the river in poor conditions.
Schools for Farmers c1950
This short film promotes schools for farmers during vacation time at Hawkesbury Agricultural College.
White River of Life c1950
A short government film made in the early 1950s to promote the health qualities of milk and milk-based foods.
