National Film and Sound Archive

Identity area

Identifier

daa/549

Authorized form of name

National Film and Sound Archive

Parallel form(s) of name

Other form(s) of name

  • National Film and Sound Archive, 1984–1999
  • ScreenSound Australia, 1999–2004
  • National Film and Sound Archive, 2004– present
  • NFSA

Type

  • National

Contact area

 

Publicity Coordinator

Type

Address

Street address

McCoy Circuit, Acton
Postal address: GPO Box 2002, Canberra ACT 2601

Locality

Canberra

Region

Australian Capital Territory

Country name

Postal code

2601

Telephone

Toll free: 1800 067 274 (only available within Australia); Canberra: 02 6248 2000

Fax

Canberra: 02 6248 2222

Email

Note

Description area

History

On 5 April 1984, the Minister for Home Affairs and Environment, the Hon Barry Cohen MP, announced the establishment of the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA). Prior to gaining its independence, the NFSA had operated as part of the Commonwealth National Library. For further information, see http://timeline.nfsaa.com/

Geographical and cultural context

Mandates/Sources of authority

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is a statutory authority established by the National Film and Sound Archive Act 2008 (Cth).

Our mission is to collect and preserve Australian film, recorded sound, broadcast, and their associated documents and artefacts, and to share and celebrate this collection with audiences worldwide.

Administrative structure

The Executive is made up of the Chief Executive Officer, the General Manager, Collections Branch and the General Manager, Corporate and Business Affairs.

The NFSA Board is responsible for the overall performance of the NFSA, including setting the strategic direction.

Records management and collecting policies

We exist to perform three vital functions:

  • Collect audiovisual works and associated documentation that reflect all aspects of Australian life and our diverse communities
  • Preserve the collection in accordance with international standards and working within our resources, to ensure permanent access
  • Share the collection so its stories form an ongoing part of the evolution of our culture.

For the NFSA Collection Policy, see: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/about/what-we-collect

Buildings

The NFSA is located in Acton, Canberra with offices in Sydney and Melbourne:

NFSA (Canberra) – for address, see above.

NFSA Sydney:
Level 1, 45 Murray Street, Pyrmont NSW 2009
PO Box 397, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Telephone: 02 8202 0100
Fax: 02 8202 0101

NFSA Melbourne:
Level 4, 2 Kavanagh St, Southbank VIC 3006
GPO Box 4317, Melbourne VIC 3001
Telephone: 03 8638 1500
Fax: 03 8638 1501

Holdings

The NFSA collection holds more than 2.8 million works, including films, television and radio programs, videos, audio tapes, records, compact discs, phonograph cylinders and wire recordings. It also encompasses documents and artefacts such as photographs, posters, lobby cards, publicity items, scripts, costumes, props, memorabilia, oral histories, and vintage equipment.

Finding aids, guides and publications

Access area

Opening times

Open 9am-5pm.
Regional office details available on website.

Access conditions and requirements

1. Compile a list of items of interest using search the collection.
2. Review your list by clicking 'view my list’.
3. Contact NFSA Collection Reference staff about your access request by emailing access@nfsa.gov.au.

Accessibility

For information on visiting, please see this link: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/about/visit-us/getting-here

Services area

Research services

For fees for different types of use and associated conditions, see: https://www.nfsa.gov.au/collection/using-collection/access-fees

Reproduction services

Public areas

Control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Revised 18 April 2018

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Maintenance notes

Access points

Access Points

  • Arts and Culture (Thematic area)
  • Communication (Thematic area)
  • Education (Thematic area)
  • Language (Thematic area)
  • Media (Thematic area)
  • Social Organisations and Activities (Thematic area)
  • Clipboard

Primary contact

McCoy Circuit, Acton Postal address: GPO Box 2002, Canberra ACT 2601
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601