‘Idyllic’ 1960s footage of Australia was used to entice new arrivals

A fascinating series of films created by the Department of Immigration* in the 1960s has been resurfaced. Made to boost migration to Australia, the collection showcases* life in 12 capital cities and regional centres and has been restored in 4K resolution* by the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA).

The 12 films — featuring Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Geelong, Launceston, Cairns, Mount Gambier, Wagga Wagga and Geraldton — were restored and republished online from 2019 to 2025 by the NFSA, which describes them as an “idyllic* vision of the 1960s”.

The Australian government commissioned the Commonwealth Film Unit, later known as Film Australia, to create the short films between 1964 and 1966, to be used overseas as a “marketing tool to sell potential ‘New Australians’ from Europe the idea of a prosperous*, happy life Down Under”.

They each follow the same formula, highlighting employment and industry, education, sport, healthcare, shopping, religion, night life and art.

But the NFSA stressed “it is important to understand the context* in which the films were made”.

“It was the last years of the ‘White Australia’ policy*, and the government wanted to attract (mostly British) migrants,” the NFSA’s Miguel Gonzalez wrote.

“Inclusiveness* was not the goal, and anything that didn’t fit into the perfect postcard image was left out of these films. It’s the TV sitcom* version of a complex country going through a transformative period.

“The 1960s was a time of change around the world, and Australia was no exception.

“The Vietnam War sparked social unrest and protests challenging Australia’s participation in the conflict.

“There are no First Nations people in any of these films, at the time when Charles Perkins* embarked on the Freedom Ride*, and only a couple of years before the landmark* 1967 referendum*.

“Women’s rights movements were also transforming Australian society, yet in these films women only play traditional roles: employed in ‘women’s jobs’ until they ‘graduated’ from working life through marriage, to become devoted housewives.

“These films are fascinating examples of the 1950s-60s government filmmaking style, and capture different aspects of the Australian experience 50 years ago. They may not represent 100 per cent of what life in Australia was, but they do capture the spirit of a nation aspiring to fulfil its potential.”

Darryl Bruhn, whose father appeared in the Mount Gambier film while working at a limestone quarry in the South Australian town, told the ABC he did not remember much about it as a child but recently saw the video pop up on Facebook.

“For him it was just a normal day and the fact there was a film crew there … he would have been concentrating on his job,” he said.

According to Professor Kate Darian-Smith from the University of Melbourne School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, the campaign was created to boost post World War II immigration, which was lower than the government had expected in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

“Those coming from Britain were always seen as the most desired cohort* and the group of people that Australia really wanted to attract,” she told the national broadcaster.

“The key message is there are jobs there for migrants — both skilled and unskilled — and that the economy itself is modernising.”

But while the series was effective, Professor Darian-Smith said many did not stay longer than a few years.

“A lot of British migrants who were lured by films like this … found when they came, the reality was somewhat different,” she said.

“Up to about 25 per cent of all migrants coming in the ‘50s and ‘60s returned back to Britain or other countries of origin because the hype didn’t quite live up to their own experience.”

NFSA senior manager Bronwyn Dowdal said the films were “really interesting time capsules”.

“Definitely a portrayal of an idealised Australia — the Australia that the government at the time wanted the world to see,” she said.

“We’re really hoping that people are able to engage with the material to look back and reflect on what their town was like at that time.

“It’s always fun to see places that you’re very familiar with … decades ago.”

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GLOSSARY

• immigration: the process by which people come to live in a foreign country, or the number of people coming in
• showcasing: showing the best qualities or parts of something or someone
• 4K resolution: refers to pixelation, in this case 4000 pixels
• idyllic: a place, situation or experience that is extremely pleasant, beautiful or peaceful
• prosperous: successful, thriving, the state of being wealthy, comfortable and a success
• context: the situation in which something happens and that helps you to understand it
• White Australia policy: the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 made it very hard or impossible for people from non-European countries to immigrate to Australia
• inclusiveness: the quality of including many different types of people and treating them all fairly and equally
• sitcom: situation comedy, like domestic family and neighbourhood soap operas and comedy shows
• Charles Perkins: a prominent Australian Aboriginal activist (1936 – 2000) who played an important role in the push for Aboriginal civil rights in the 1960s and 1970s, Perkins was a fitter and turner, professional soccer player, and one of the first Aboriginal people to graduate from university
• Freedom Ride: inspired by anti-segregation activism in the USA, University of Sydney’s Student Action For Aborigines (SAFA) group, including Charles Perkins, one of only two Aboriginal students at the university at the time, made a 15-day journey through regional NSW, challenging bans including that against Aboriginal ex-servicemen at the Walgett Returned Services League, and local laws barring Aboriginal children from the Moree and Kempsey swimming pools
• landmark: here it refers to an important or unique decision, event, fact or discovery
• cohort: group of people who have something in common

EXTRA READING

Why are there big protests around the world?

Migrant population shrinks for first time in decades

What is the Census all about?

QUICK QUIZ

1. What are at least four of the 12 cities and towns featured in the marketing campaign?
2. What specific elements of Australian life were highlighted in the film series?
3. Which group of Australians was excluded?
4. What percentage of British migrants to Australia went back in the 1950s and 1960s?
5. The campaign was created to boost what?

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Migrant suitcase
List five to 10 items a new migrant family relocating to Australia might need to pack for the move. Think about the main things your family would need to start a new life in a new country to settle there and earn a living.

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Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Geography, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Up to 25 per cent of migrants returned back to their home country. Compare what the immigration advertisements promised about Australia compared to what was offered or was really needed by these migrant families to stay.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Humanities, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you are part of the intended audience for these marketing films, which were made to draw Brits and Europeans to Australia to live in the 1960s.

Create a conversation between two characters – you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the article to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.

Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places