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Memory of the World International Conference February 2008
 
The Cinesound Movietone Australian Newsreel Collection 1929-1975

 
Register no. 004
Year of registration 2003
Abstract The Cinesound Movietone Australian Newsreel Collection, is a comprehensive collection of 4,000 newsreel films and documentation that represents a unique range of news stories covering all major events in Australian history, entertainment and sport from 1929 to 1975. The newsreels had a significant and enduring influence on Australian society in that for many years they provided the only audiovisual depiction of major events such as elections, wars, floods, bushfires etc, reflecting the changing attitudes of the Australian population spanning almost half a century. Each newsreel has independent significance but the Collection in its entirety provides a heritage resource of immeasurable value. Full cataloguing and the detailed information provided by the original content sheets make the Collection uniquely accessible. This Collection of original material is housed in its entirety at ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive.
1.0 Identity and location 1.1 Name of documentary heritage The Cinesound Movietone Australian Newsreel Collection 1929-1975
1.2 Country Australia.
1.3 State, Province or Region Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
1.4 Name of organisation or institution (if appropriate) ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive.
1.5 Address McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601. Telephone +61 2 6248 2000, Facsimile +61 2 6248 2222, Email enquiries@screensound.gov.au, http://www.screensound.gov.au.
2.0 Legal information 2.1 Owner (name and full contact details) ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601. Telephone +61 2 6248 2000, Facsimile +61 2 6248 2222, Email enquiries@screensound.gov.au, http://www.screensound.gov.au.
2.2 Custodian (name and full contact details) ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601. Telephone +61 2 6248 2000, Facsimile +61 2 6248 2222, Email enquiries@screensound.gov.au, http://www.screensound.gov.au.
2.3 Legal status (if different from 2.1)
(a) category of ownership The documentary heritage is physically owned by ScreenSound Australia and FilmWorld Pty Ltd claims copyright ownership.
(b) details of legal and administrative powers for the preservation of the documentary heritage The preservation of Australia's audiovisual heritage is the responsibility of the National Screen and Sound Archive (ScreenSound Australia). ScreenSound Australia is established under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and derives its power directly from the Commonwealth Constitution and a range of Acts under the Constitution, and has a full range of power for all aspects of the preservation of screen and sound heritage.
(c) accessibility Access to the content of the documentary heritage is provided on contemporary formats for research and reproduction. The original preserved material is stored in appropriate climatic conditions to ensure its secure longevity.

Access restrictions are explicitly stated below:
The original nitrate film material is a redundant format and therefore is not suitable for access, however, duplicated copies are available in contemporary formats for all access purposes.
Copyright clearance is necessary prior to commercial use.
(d) copyright status Copyright ownership is claimed by FilmWorld Pty Ltd on behalf of Cinesound Movietone Productions.
2.4 Responsible administration ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive.
3.0 Identification 3.1 Description and inventory The Cinesound Movietone Australian Newsreel Collection 1929 to 1975. Four thousand individual newsreels (negative and positive).
3.2 Bibliographic/Registration details Cinesound Movietone Australian Newsreel Collection, Four thousand newsreels, approximate average duration 1-3 minutes each. Original negatives, prints, intermediate materials, duplicate prints and video copies accompanied by detailed content sheets.
3.3 Visual documentation, if appropriate (for example photographs or a video of the documentary heritage A VHS compilation copy of a sample of the contents of the Collection and stills exists.
3.4 History The Collection was donated in its entirety to ScreenSound Australia in 1988 by the owners 20th Century Fox and The Greater Union Organisation who also sponsored the relocation, copying and cataloguing of the Collection and its documentation.
3.5 Bibliography

Pike, Andrew, and Ross Cooper. Australian Film 1900-1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Shirley, Graham, and Brian Adams. Australian Cinema: The First Eighty Years: Currency Press, 1989.
3.6 Names, qualifications and contact details of up to three independent people or organisations with expert knowledge about the values and provenance of the documentary heritage
Mr Ray Edmondson (film historian and audiovisual archivist), 100 Learmont Drive, Kambah, ACT 2902.

Mr Richard Keys (film historian and archivist), 10 Campbell St, Ainslie, ACT 2602.

Mr Graham Shirly (film historian, researcher and author), 6/17 Lodge Street, Balgowlah, NSW 2093.
4.0 Assessment of the documentary heritage against each criterion Criterion 1 - Influence The documentary heritage represents an extensive and unique collection of newsreel films produced in Australia between 1929 and 1975 documenting Australia?s current events and history. The newsreels had a significant and enduring influence on Australian society in that they provided the only audiovisual depiction of major events such as elections, wars, floods, bushfires etc, reflecting the changing attitudes of the Australian population spanning almost half a century. The Collection of original material is housed in its entirety at ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive.
Criterion 2 - Time The documentary heritage constitutes a living record of Australia through much of the 20th Century. The Collection is particularly evocative of the time period represented. The newsreel films reflect not only the history but also the values and style of Australian society over many decades
Criterion 3 - Place The 4,000 newsreels reflect many locations Australia wide as well as crucial international event locations. By its nature, newsreel content forms a massive historic record of physical place and social significance.
Criterion 4 - People The documentary heritage depicts a broad cross section of Australian society of the time with significant coverage of influential Australians such as politicians, sports people and everyday Australians. This comprehensive collection of 4,000 individual newsreels and at least 20,000 individual stories also represents a unique insight into the way that Australian cinematic audiences absorbed both major and minor news throughout those decades.
Criterion 5 ? Subject/Theme The documentary heritage includes an immense variety of subjects and themes depicting the most significant events in Australian history, politics, entertainment, sports, hobbies etc. Much of what is contained in the Collection is now considered iconic representations of our past. This is a unique representation of Australia?s 20th century history, societal attitudes and changing worldwide relationships throughout those decades. Refer to video copy for sample.
Criterion 6 ? Form and style Newsreel form was the precursor to contemporary television and radio reporting. The 50 years of newsreel reports mirror the evolving styles of documentary and thematic reporting and the changing formula of news segments. The production style of the newsreel films evokes the nature of Australian society at the time. They represent how documentary audiovisual communications were relayed to Australian audiences as opposed to how contemporary news and current affairs commentary and presentation are presented today. They encapsulate the unique form and narrative style that endeared the newsreel to a broad spectrum of Australians to this day. The kookaburra and the kangaroo opening sequences have a special meaning for many generations of Australian cinema audiences.
Criterion 7 ? Social value The complete Collection has an outstanding social value through its content, which so clearly represents the most influential and entertaining events of significance for Australians. The newsreels were a part of 50 years of Australian?s weekly experience, a means of keeping up with the news and an integral part of the Australian cinematic experience.
Secondary criterion 1 - Integrity The Collection is comprehensive. Some audio loss has occurred. The comprehensive set of newsreel content sheets complement and reinforce the diverse nature of the Collection and provide maximum context and integrity.
Secondary criterion 2 - Rarity As a virtually complete collection of Australia?s newsreel output, the documentary heritage is unique and irreplaceable.
4.2 Contextual assessment including an assessment of the importance of a series of documents, the importance of a series of documents in a particular setting, and the assessment against other documentary heritage
4.3 An evaluation of the authenticity The Collection was obtained by donation from the original production companies. Authentication was further verified through documented scripts, content lists, stills etc and a tax incentives for the arts valuation assessment was confirmed.
4.4 An assessment of any threat(s) to the preservation of the documentary heritage A five year project (Operation Newsreel) was undertaken to restore, copy and catalogue the Collection. The documentary heritage has now been stabilised with all necessary preservation copying completed. The original materials and copies are stored in appropriate conditions in secure storage facilities.
5.0 Management plan A five year project was launched to systematically:
  • Select and transfer the original newsreel film to high quality archival storage
  • Compare each reel with variant copies, including those that were already held in the Archive?s collection
  • Assemble the most complete, authoritative and best quality version of the reel and repair and restore it
  • Make archival 35mm film preservation and intermediate copies and place them in archival storage
  • Make video copies for public access
  • Add cataloguing and control information on the reel to a computer data bank
This project is now complete and all original materials and copies are stored in appropriate conditions in secure storage facilities.
6.0 Consultation 6.1 Details of consultation about the nomination with the:
(a)Owner Internal expert committee consulted.
(b) Custodian See 6.1a
(c) Relevant Regional or National Memory of the World Committee (if appropriate UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Committee, ANU Centre for UNESCO, 5 Liversidge St., Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200. Telephone +61 2 6125 9943, Facsimile +61 2 6125 4959, Email carole.caldwell@anu.edu.au, http://www.amw.org.au.
(d) Independent institution(s) and/or experts
Mr Ray Edmondson (film historian and audiovisual archivist), 100 Learmont Drive, Kambah, ACT 2902. Confirmation of Mr Edmondson?s direct experience of the Collection and estimation as archivist and newsreel expert.

Mr Richard Keys (film historian and archivist), 10 Campbell St, Ainslie, ACT 2602.
Tax incentives for the arts valuer for the original donation of the entire Collection to ScreenSound Australia. Confirmation of valuation judgement November 2002.
7.0 Nominator 7.1 Name ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive.
7.2 Relationship to the documentary heritage Custodian
7.3 Contact person (if appropriate) Ms Meg Labrum and Ms Josie Tomas
7.4 Contact details ScreenSound Australia, the National Screen and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton, ACT 2601. Telephone +61 2 6248 2000, Facsimile +61 2 6248 2222, Email enquiries@screensound.gov.au, http://www.screensound.gov.au.
This site last modified: Sunday 8 February 2009. © Copyright 2003-2009, Australian Memory of the World Committee.
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