Australian Commonwealth Film Unit Movies

Presented by explorer Frank Hurley in his final film appearance, this documentary chronicles Australia's role in the scientific exploration of...

Shows new methods in treating those afflicted with mental health issues. Contrasts past treatment regimes where people were locked away out of sight...

Judy, a young woman living in a provincial town, spends her final weeks at home preparing to move to the city in search of new opportunities. As she...

Michael, a young man living within a conventional middle-class environment, begins to question his future as he encounters a group aligned with the...

This short film documents Australian composer Richard Meale’s homage to the young French poet, Arthur Rimbaud. Meale composed a music piece for...

Take in Sydney from the rooftops in this gently surreal, wordless short. With a cheeky animated interlude and sweeping harbour views, this is 1970s...

This anthology film brings together three stories—"Michael", "Judy", and "Toula"—each centered on a young Australian confronting personal...

Two Aboriginal families live like their ancestors have for centuries in this anthropological documentary. The gathering of food is the main focus as...

Produced for the Adults Learning series, this short film depicts a man constructing a sailing dinghy with the assistance of a professional boat...

George Reynolds, recently discharged from the army, tells his father of his plans to marry and relax. Reynolds Snr tells his son that if Australia is...

A travel film with a poetic narration and orchestral soundtrack on Tasmania: '...set like a scenic tapestry in the Southern Ocean'.

Made by the Department of Immigration to entice immigrants from Great Britain, this film shows an idyllic picture of life in the New South Wales...

Produced for the Adults Learning series, this short film uses a conversation between a potential university dropout, a friend, and an observer to...

A documentary about industrial design.

Produced by The National Film Board 1945. Directed by Maslyn Williams. When this film was made, Canberra was one of the world's youngest planned...

This short documentary showcases three Australian music acts—Wendy Saddington and Teardrop, the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, and the...

A detailed historical account of the major campaigns fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. Compiled from the...

Bored during the summer holidays and escaping the heat, a group of kids (and their joey!) from Cook, on the Nullarbor Plain, discover a limestone...

Produced for the Adults Learning series, this short film presents a training session in which adults are introduced to punch card systems, exploring...

Part 1 of the History of Australian Cinema series. Australian cinema from the very beginning, from the newsreels, ethnographic and actuality films,...