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The making of Canberra as captured on film (1900–1945)

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  • Lauren Pikó
  • Hannah Lewi

Abstract

This paper traces the Australian capital city of Canberra’s representation through official, government-sponsored, Australian documentary films made between 1900 and 1945. Through a small sample of selected films, that are well preserved and held in the national film archives, we discuss their filmic intention, form, technical production and reception. In these forty plus years which end prior to the advent of technicolour, there was a progression in technical sophistication of the genre from silent to sound, and from newsreel-style reportage of pomp and ceremony towards more informal, aspirational pictures that attempt to conjure how everyday lives could be lived in the fledgling city of Canberra. We suggest that these kinds of films, that might be dismissed as mere propaganda, are useful in adding to our understanding of how documentaries became a tool in the representation and communication of a rapidly shifting national identity, that was advanced concurrently through the planning and building of a new capital city and the evolution of documentary films.

Suggested Citation

  • Lauren Pikó & Hannah Lewi, 2022. "The making of Canberra as captured on film (1900–1945)," Planning Perspectives, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(4), pages 795-814, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rppexx:v:37:y:2022:i:4:p:795-814
    DOI: 10.1080/02665433.2021.2016478
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