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Australia Day at Burra
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This newsreel shows the then prosperous and bustling mining town of Burra, or the collection of townships known as ‘The Burra’, celebrating Australia Day on July the 30th, predating the now national celebration held on 26 January. At that time there was no nationally recognised national day, instead they usually were based around each state’s date of significance for the founding of the colony.
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Flags for Victory
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Belgian Flag Days, along with French Flag Days, Violet Day and Wattle Day, occurred across Australia during World War One. They were organised to raise funds, engage communities and encourage new recruits, as well as to honour and pay respect to the wounded, the fallen and their families. This film shows a Belgian Flag Day held at the former mining town of Burra, South Australia, on 10 May 1915.
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The Sydney suburb of Manly remembers the fallen
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This film shows the unveiling of a monument for Alan David Mitchell, the first soldier from Manly to die in the war. Erected by his parents and unveiled on 14 October 1916, the monument remains in place along The Corso in Manly. Over time it has been updated to commemorate all those from the district who have died fighting in conflicts from the South African War to Afghanistan.
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Tamworth celebrates the 8-hour day and war efforts
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Rain poured and cold winds blustered, but that didn’t dampen Tamworth’s annual 8 hour day festivities and patriotic parade on 23 October 1916.
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"The most valuable shipment of films"
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The arrival of a shipment of US films in Sydney in 1916 confirmed that Hollywood had won Australian hearts. But some commentators were already concerned about the impact on Australian film production. On 16 March 1916, ‘Kinema’ of the Melbourne Argus asked, “Why should Australia be mainly dependent upon other countries” for its motion pictures? The article explored costs and marketplace realities that forced the closure of Australian film-producing companies, “one after the other”. In a conclusion that resonates even today, Kinema says, “whilst the successful Australian productions can be counted upon the fingers of the two hands, the number of those which have entailed serious financial loss is unfortunately considerable.”
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Brother Turk Thankful
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Harry Julius’s clever animated comment on the fighting spirit of Australian forces against the Turkish enemy.
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Even Major-Generals die in battle
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The sombre 1915 funeral procession of Major-General Sir William Bridges, killed in action at the Dardenelles. Filmed in Melbourne after Bridges’ body arrived home months after his death.