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Audiovisual collections: Moving image

The State Library of South Australia's audiovisual collections were established in the 1970s. Formats represented include analogue records (wax cylinders, 78rprm records and vinyl records), audiocassettes, CDs, videos and computer games by South Australia

The State Library of South Australia's collections include home movies dating back to the 1930s, silent films, documentary material, and feature films and television productions made in South Australia and by South Australians who have made careers throughout the world. The Library's YouTube channel allows you to view some of our cinematic treasures.

Laurence Casson's film of the Bowker electric car being driven through the streets of Adelaide in the early 1940s. More information at SA Memory.

National Film and Sound Archive

The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is located in Canberra and functions as the National Library for Australian audiovisual materials - film, television, radio etc. It has official Access Centre partners in each state : the State Library of South Australia is the Access Centre for SA.

You can request items in the National Film and Sound Archive collection to be sent to the State Library of SA free of charge. Look for the links on their catalogue. 

All NFSA material, including material in the onsite collection, is available for use within the State Library only, unless special permission is sought and received from NFSA.

Published film and video

The collection holds a significant range of film and video material by world-renowned filmmakers including:

  • The legendary J.P. McGowan (born in Terowie, SA in 1880) who began a very productive Hollywood career during the silent era of the early 1900s.
  • Classic South Australian Film Corporation productions of the 1970s, including Storm boy, Breaker Morant and Blue fin.
  • Documentary films made by Scott Hicks in the early 1980s for the SA Film Corporation, as well as video and DVD copies of his recent blockbuster movies, Shine and Snow falling on cedars.
  • DVD, Blu-Ray and videotape copies of recent films by Rolf De Heer, including Bad boy bubby and The tracker, featuring South Australian actor Gary Sweet.

The careers of South Australian acting talent are documented by collecting representative examples of national and overseas works.

are a few South Australian performers who have achieved international fame.

Archival film and video

The Library's collection of unpublished film seeks to document the history of our state, through depictions of family life, cultural events such as the Christmas Pageant, regional development, farming and agriculture.
 
Films are acquired by donation, and range from family home movies found in the garage, to large collections bequeathed to the Library by professional film makers such as Brian Bosisto (who also produced a number of films for the SA Film Corporation, many of which are held in our published collection), John Mack and Percival Moody (over 200 films to date in archival record group PRG 416).
Archival film donations are always welcome.
 

The Library accommodates all film formats, including 8mm, 9.5mm, 16mm, and 35mm, as well as video recordings including obsolete formats such as UMATIC tape. The Library's Preservation Services staff have technical expertise in handling film, and work closely with local commercial bodies and film experts, as well as the National Film and Sound Archive to ensure that the information is correctly preserved

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