Sydney (1966) | Australia Life Series in 4K 🇦🇺

Life in Australia: Sydney (restored in 4K) captures Australia’s largest city in 1966—already a busy metropolis with a population of three million and a skyline beginning to rise. The film visits many of Sydney’s most iconic locations, from the sparkling harbour and Circular Quay to Martin Place, Kings Cross and Bondi Beach. The Sydney Opera House, still under construction, stands as a bold symbol of the city’s cultural future.

Through scenes of everyday life—commuters on public transport, families in parks, students in classrooms, and shoppers in busy centres—the film presents a city balancing growth with routine. It reflects Sydney’s expanding industries, public services, and recreational spaces, offering a snapshot of urban life during a time of transformation.

Part of the Life in Australia series, produced by the Commonwealth Film Unit for the Department of Immigration, the film was designed to entice European migrants with an idealised view of Australian life. These films were promotional tools—Australia was the product, and its cities and towns were presented as places where everyone led prosperous, happy lives.

The scripts across the series follow a familiar pattern, covering employment, education, healthcare, shopping, religion, sport, nightlife and the arts. While they reflect the optimism of the era, they also reveal its limitations: First Nations people are absent, gender roles are narrowly defined, and the White Australia Policy still shaped immigration.

Today, these films offer a valuable historical record—capturing how Australia saw itself and wanted to be seen by the world.

👉 Recognise a face, place or moment? Share your insights in the comments!

From the Film Australia Collection, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Title: Sydney: Life In Australia
NFSA ID: 16951
Year: 1966
Credits:
Australian Commonwealth Film Unit
Director: Joe Scully
Producer: Eric Thompson
Photography: Eric Kenning, George Alexander
Music: Robert Young

Learn more about the Life in Australia series: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/curated/life-australia

For reuse and licensing enquiries, please contact: access@nfsa.gov.au



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