Titles from the 1920s
120 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year prev 1 2 3 next
A
An AIM Patrol documentary – 1927
This film documented outback life in the 1920s and may have been made to accompany a written report.
Albion, Douglas: Children’s Birthday Party home movie – c1925
This short segment is one of three reels of nitrate film chronicling significant events and celebrations in the Albion family during the early 1920s.
Albion, Douglas: Children’s Party home movie – c1921
This beautiful example of early movie making in 1920s Australia was rediscovered by Douglas Albion decades after it was filmed.
Albion, Douglas: Wally’s Fifth Birthday Party home movie – c1921
Douglas Albion was about to throw this footage out when he heard of a search for source material to be used in the production of Our Century (1998).
Archibald Family: Noorong Gazette: Parts I - IV home movie – c1927
The Noorong Gazette is a series of seven film gazettes compiled between 1927 and 1932 by the Archibald family of Strathfield, Sydney.
Archibald Family: Noorong Gazette: Parts IX - XII home movie – c1928
These gazettes made by members of the Archibald family are some of the earliest examples of home movie making.
Austin Hospital at Heidelberg, Vic: The Only Hospital for Chronic Diseases in Australia documentary – 1928
This is a remarkable visual record of what hospitals were once like — and the treatments used for some ailments in the 1920s.
Australasian Gazette – 10,000 Miles around Australia newsreel – c1926
In this Australasian Gazette newsreel from approximately 1926, Mr and Mrs F Dean arrive in Melbourne after their Shell-sponsored trip around Australia by touring car.
Australasian Gazette – 1924 Melbourne Cup newsreel – 1924
This newsreel features highlights of the 1924 Melbourne Cup, including the horses entering the racetrack, crowds in the grandstand and the race, won by Backwood.
Australasian Gazette – 1st Chatswood Erects a Tower and a Rope Suspension Bridge newsreel – c1923
In this newsreel from approximately 1923, the 1st Chatswood Boy Scouts erect a tower and suspension bridge and compete in a boxing match.
Australasian Gazette – 70,000 Pounds Production Nears Completion newsreel – 1926
This newsreel clip from 1926 shows a scene from For the Term of His Natural Life in production at the Australasian Films’ Bondi studio in Sydney.
Australasian Gazette – All for a Good Cause newsreel – c1920
A surf carnival at Bondi Beach in aid of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade features in this Australasian Gazette newsreel from approximately 1920.
Australasian Gazette – Annual Christmas Treat newsreel – c1925
This segment from an old cinema newsreel shows Christmas celebrations for children at the Victoria Barracks in Sydney, including a live puppet show and Father Christmas handing out presents.
Australasian Gazette – Armistice Day, Melbourne newsreel – c1925
This newsreel clip from about 1925 shows the crowd gathered on the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne, for Armistice Day. 'The Last Post’ plays after two minutes of silence.
Australasian Gazette – Arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York newsreel – 1927
This 1927 newsreel shows the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York for the official opening of Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra.
Australasian Gazette – A Seaplane Circles a Continent newsreel – 1924
In this extract from a 1924 documentary, A Seaplane Circles a Continent, a RAAF airplane arrives in St Kilda after circumnavigating Australia.
Australasian Gazette – A Unique Audience newsreel – c1920
This 1920 Australasian Gazette newsreel shows injured soldiers from Caulfield Military Hospital attending a special matinee at Elsternwick Theatre.
Australasian Gazette – Bon Voyage to Ex-Chief Justice, Sir William Cullen newsreel – c1924
This newsreel shows the 1924 farewell and departure from Sydney of the retired Chief Justice Sir William Cullen and Lady Cullen for an overseas trip.
Australasian Gazette – Clive Barass, Australian Champion and Leader of the Troupe newsreel – c1926
In this silent black-and-white footage, Australian champion diver Clive Barass and his troupe perform at Clifton Gardens Baths near Mosman, Sydney.
Australasian Gazette – Conversion newsreel – c1920
In this 1920 newsreel, work commences at Victoria Parade for the electrification of the cable tram system of Collins Street, Melbourne.
Australasian Gazette – Dame Nellie Melba newsreel – c1920
This newsreel footage shows soprano Dame Nellie Melba, having arrived in Sydney from Vancouver on the passenger liner RMS Niagara after a world tour.
Australasian Gazette – In and around Hamilton District newsreel – c1920
This newsreel from approximately 1920 shows the orchard districts of Hamilton, Queensland. Workers pick, sort and pack peaches for transportation.
Australasian Gazette – Maoris Give Their War Cry newsreel – c1922
In this 1922 newsreel footage, a Maori rugby league team perform a haka war dance before playing a game against New South Wales.
Australasian Gazette – Master Pictures Lead the Way newsreel – c1926
In 1926, the general manager of Australasian Films and the producer of For the Term of His Natural Life leave for Tasmania to scout movie locations.
Australasian Gazette – Miss Australia, Beryl Mills, Leaves for the US on the Sonoma newsreel – 1926
This newsreel clip shows a large crowd farewelling the first Miss Australia, Miss Beryl Mills, as she leaves for the USA on the ocean liner Sonoma in 1926.
Australasian Gazette – Parliament Opens the New Session newsreel – 1925
In this newsreel from 1925, the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Dudley de Chair, arrives by car to open Parliament House in Melbourne.
Australasian Gazette – Pauline Frederick, World Famous Star of Stage and Screen newsreel – c1924
In this newsreel, stage and screen actress Pauline Frederick poses for the camera. It is an early example of the fascination Australians have with American actors.
Australasian Gazette – Prickly Pear Infested Areas of Australia newsreel – 1926
By 1925, the prickly pear infested over 25 million hectares in New South Wales and Queensland. Caterpillar larvae were introduced in 1926 to combat the problem.
Australasian Gazette – Ship Building as Hobby newsreel – c1925
In this 1925 newsreel, builders of model passenger liners sail their boats on a pond in Moore Park, Sydney.
Australasian Gazette – Shopping Week, Sydney newsreel – c1926
This 1926 Australasian Gazette newsreel segment features a 'monster procession’ as part of Shopping Week in Bondi Junction, Sydney.
Australasian Gazette – Some Sunday Morning newsreel – c1920
This newsreel vividly captures 'some Sunday morning’ at St Kilda Beach, Melbourne, showcasing 1920s swimming costumes, parasols and beach culture.
Australasian Gazette – Spectacular Surf Club Parade at Bondi Championships Carnival newsreel – c1929
This 1929 newsreel includes a lifesaving demonstration and a Scottish pipe band leading the opening parade of a surf carnival at Bondi Beach.
Australasian Gazette – Sun Worshippers newsreel – c1924
This newsreel from approximately 1924 shows surfers and swimmers at Bondi Beach enjoying the first day of real summer weather of the season.
Australasian Gazette – Test Cricketers newsreel – c1926
Filmed at Headingley Oval, this newsreel from approximately 1926 features the Australian cricket team on tour in England. Also included are highlights from a match.
Australian Cement in the Making documentary – c1926
Everything you wanted to know about cement making — in the 1920s — but were afraid to ask.
An Australian Invention: Falkiner Cane Harvester in Operation sponsored film – c1925
This film, possibly made by the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation, promotes the use of the mechanical harvester – a real innovation at the time.
The Australian Steel Works sponsored film – c1920
This Made in Australia Council documentary, made circa 1920, tours a steel works factory in Newcastle to promote the Australian steel industry.
B
Beautiful Middle Harbour advertisement – 1927
Beginning with wide, panoramic shots of the scenery, this captures some interesting footage of Sydney before suburban development.
Berlei Corsets: Beautiful Lines of Woman Triumphant advertisement – c1920
This advertisement shows the fuller figures of the models as compared with models of today.
The Birth of White Australia feature film – 1928
This early feature depicts racial tension in NSW in 1861. Despite its offensive representation of Aboriginality, the film has cultural and historic value.
Black Sunday documentary – 1926
This silent footage was probably used as a promotional tool for fundraising in the wake of the 'Black Sunday’ bushfires of Valentine’s Day 1926 that swept Victoria.
Boots and Shoes sponsored film – 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.
The Breaking of the Drought feature film – 1920
An outback family faces ruin through drought and a son corrupted by life in the big city.
Browne, George: Our movie memories 1928–1934 home movie – 1928
These amateur role-plays are a real treat to watch and were clearly a source of great amusement for all involved.
Buckley, Anthony: Buckley Family Collection: Tarn Shan Tin Mine, Thailand home movie – c1928
This footage is rare because Australians travelled infrequently to South-East Asia in the 1920s.
Building a Motor Body sponsored film – 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 sponsored film – c1925
The state government commissioned this short film showing work at the South Australian Railways engine construction and repair plant outside Adelaide.
Bushells Blue Label Tea: Bushells Tea Factory advertisement – c1925
This ad takes the form of an industrial documentary by showing the process of tea making.
Bushells Tea: The Charmed Cup advertisement – 1929
Divided into three parts, this advertisement was screened like chapters of a dramatic fairytale plot.
C
Camp-Berlei Foundation Garments: Physiological Support advertisement – c1927
Today Berlei remains one of the most recognisable names in the manufacture and design of lingerie and underwear in Australia.
