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Australia – a Place for Surf and Sunshine, Romance and Holidays … the Poster Collection at the National Library of Australia

Goodchild, John C. (John Charles), 1898-1980
Rest & relax on the Murray Trip, rail and river tours [picture]
Adelaide : Govt. Publicity and Tourist Bureau, South Australia, [193?]
1 poster : col. ; 101 x 63 cm.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an13680054

Australian Labor Party. New South Wales Branch.
Labor stands for all who work! Vote Labor [picture]
Sydney : E.G. Theodore, Campaign Director, A.L.P. state of N.S.W. Trades Hall, [1928?] ( Sydney : Posters Ltd)]
1 poster : col. ; 76.1 x 101.6 cm.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an8263661

Carter the Great [picture] Carter beats the Devil
Cleveland, Oh, : Otis Litho. Co., [ca. 1926]
1 poster : col. ill. ; 56 cm.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an22207425

Pike, B. E.
Australia's Roll of Honour, 300,000 names, how about yours? [picture]
[1915-1917?]
1 poster : col. ; 58.5 x 46.5 cm.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an14106738

Hunt, C. H. ‚q (Charles Henry), ‚d 1857-1938.
Hydro-Majestic Hotel, Medlow Bath [picture]
[ Sydney : s.n., ‚c 192-] ( Sydney : Bloxham & Chambers)
1 print : col. photomechanical ; 70 x 95.5 cm.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an10566802

Australia's 150th anniversary celebrations Sydney – summer season – January to April 1938 [picture] / issued on behalf of Australia's 150th anniversary Council by the Australian National Travel Association.
Sydney : The Association, 1938.
1 poster : col. ; 101.2 x 62.4 cm.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an7649545

 

Surf and sunshine, romance and holidays conjures up an Australia that is enticing, with water, heat, blue skies and friendly people. Posters with these vivid images using such various techniques as artwork, photography or collage are shown overseas and are an excellent advertising medium to bring flocks of tourists to our shores.

Australians need only go as far as the Library’s website to see some of these beautiful posters.

Why does the Library collect posters? They are a form of printed material that graphically represents information and opinion and so complements the more traditional printed materials like books and journals.

Only certain categories and subject areas are collected. These include federal elections, performing arts, issues of public debate, Australian geography and history, specific events of national significance, and advertising material showing products and services.

The Library holds travel posters that have been produced for the overseas and Australian markets by such artists as Percy Trompf, James Northfield, Gert Sellheim, Eileen Mayo and John Goodchild.

The Library has an extensive collection of federal election ephemera, such as how-to-vote cards and electoral reports, and posters are a significant part. They record the issues of the period and the images can provide a glimpse into the depth of feeling surrounding them.

Posters also complement the Library’s PROMPT collection on Performing Arts, which contains theatre programs of Australian artists performing overseas or in Australia.

There are posters on more serious matters—on issues of public debate like wars, immigration, AIDS and conservation.

Another category includes posters that advertise products and services. These can include airline advertising, health resorts, beer and car tyres, the Melbourne and Sydney Olympic Games, and zoos.

Every country has its significant events and these are carefully recorded. Images of that event allows the reader to feel and experience it and be transported back in time.

There are many more posters, including digitised ones, that are available on the Library’s catalogue. Visit the website at www.nla.gov.au and click on ‘Catalogue’.

Wanda Horky
Australian Collection Development