The 5 male members of 1970s rock band Sherbet performing on stage: a lead guitarist, bass guitarist, drummer and keyboards player with lead singer Daryl Braithwaite

https://nginx-develop-nfsa2.govcms7.amazee.io/sites/default/files/2023-11/Sounds%20Banner%202.jpg

NFSA Sounds of Australia

NFSA Sounds of Australia

Established in 2007, Sounds of Australia is the NFSA’s selection of sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance, which inform or reflect life in Australia.

You can view the complete Sounds of Australia list below. Follow the links to learn more about each of the sounds and listen to excerpts.

You can also see annual curated collections listing all of the sounds added in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,2022 and 2023.

Pictured above: Sherbet (for 'Howzat', 1976)

The complete Sounds of Australia list

1890s

1896 – The Hen Convention, Thomas Rome

1898 – The Recordings of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits, Alfred Cort Haddon and others

1898 – They Always Follow Me, Syria Lamonte

1899 – Fanny Cochrane Smith’s Tasmanian Aboriginal Songs, Horace Watson

1900-1919

1900 – The Absent-Minded Beggar, JJ Virgo

1901-1902 – Cylinder Recordings from Central Australia, Spencer and Gillen and Aboriginal communities

1904 – Chant Vénitien, Nellie Melba

1904 – Farewell Address to Australia, Hallam Lord Tennyson

Percy Grainger writing at a desk — Country Gardens, 1919. Percy Grainger

c1905 – Caro Mio Ben, Ada Crossley

1907 – The Black Watch, Percy Herford

1907 – Starlight, Hamilton Hill

1910 – My South Polar Expedition, Ernest Shackleton

1910 – Sweet Spirit Hear My Prayer, Marie Narelle

1912 – When Father Papered the Parlour, Billy Williams

1913 – Hold Your Hand Out Naughty Boy, Florrie Forde

1914 – Message Recorded at Mena Camp, Cairo, Second Lieutenant Henry Miller Lanser

1915 – The Landing of the Australian Troops in Egypt, Zonophone

1919 – Country Gardens, Percy Grainger

1920s

1921 – Love Will Find a Way, Gladys Moncrieff

1924 – London Recordings, Newcastle Steelworks Band

Colourful illustration of Roy Rene as Mo McCackie — The Sailors, 1927. Stiffy and Mo

1926 – Freshie ; After the Dawn, Sydney Simpson and his Wentworth Café Orchestra

1926 – Speech at the Opening of the Columbia Graphophone Company Australian Factory, Admiral Sir Dudley De Chair KCB MVO

1927 – Anvil Chorus, PC Spouse

1927 – The Sailors, Stiffy & Mo

1927 – Waltzing Matilda, John Collinson

1927–1932 Sydney Recordings, Queenie and David Kaili

1928 – Hinkler’s Message to Australia ; Incidents of My Flight, Bert Hinkler

1928 – Twilight of the Gods (Die Götterdämmerung), Florence Austral

1930s

1930 – The 1930 Australian XI: Winners of the Ashes

1930 – Our Don Bradman, Len Maurice

Aeroplane Jelly advertisement showing musical notes and a boy's face. — Aeroplane Jelly song, 1938. Joy King

1931 – Along the Road to Gundagai, Peter Dawson

1931 – Sweet Nell of Old Drury, Nellie Stewart

1933 – Etude de concert in F minor and Etude de concert in A flat major, Eileen Joyce

1936 – Wrap Me Up In My Stockwhip and Blanket, Tex Morton

1936–40 – Yes, What?, 5AD, Rex Dawe and cast

1937 – Dad and Dave from Snake Gully (Radio Series), George Edward Players

1937 – Life Without Love, Frank Coughlan’s Trocadero Orchestra

1938 – The Aeroplane Jelly Song, Joy King

1938 – Where the Dog Sits on the Tuckerbox, Jim Davidson's Dandies and Dick Cranbourne

1939 – Give A Little Credit to Your Dad ; Lonesome For Your Mother Dear, Buddy Williams

1939 – Menzies Speech: Declaration of War, Sir Robert Menzies

1940s

1940–58 – Australia's Amateur Hour, AWA

1941 – Concert in a Cave at Tobruk, Chester Wilmot, ABC Field Unit

Advertisement for Australia's Amateur Hour with portrait photo of Terry Dear. — Australia's Amateur Hour, 1940–58. AWA

1941 – Curtin Speech: Japan Enters Second World War, John Curtin

1941 – The Melbourne Cup, Ken Howard, sports commentator

1941–72 – Argonauts Row, Harold Williams

1942 – Digger, Jack Lumsdaine

1943 – Dame Enid Lyons: Maiden Speech, Dame Enid Lyons

1943 – Senator Dorothy Tangney: Maiden Speech, Dorothy Tangney

1943 – The Majestic Fanfare (ABC radio news theme), Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra

1944 – Swanston St Shamble ; Two Day Jag, Graeme Bell

1944 onwards – Grace Gibson Productions’ radio serials, various artists

1945 – First Parliamentary Sitting Broadcast – Victory in Europe, Ben Chifley and Sir Robert Menzies

1948–1962 – Pick A Box, Bob Dyer

1949 – Theme from Blue Hills, New Century Orchestra

1950s

1950 – Corroboree, Sydney Symphony Orchestra

Binny Lum surrounded by all the members of The Beatles — Binny Lum Collection, 1955–1967

1950 – Maranoa Lullaby, Harold Blair

1952 – I'm the Sheik of Scrubby Creek, Chad Morgan

1952 – Horrie Dargie Concert, The Horrie Dargie Harlequintet

1953 – Sam Griffiths, Jack Luscombe

1953 – Tribal Music of Australia, AP Elkin

1954 – Happy Little Vegemites, Betty Parker, Stephen Parker, Julia Parker and Linda Marcy

1955 – Prestophone Mastertape, Olive and Eva

1955 – The Adventure of the Singing Bullet, Smoky Dawson

1955 – The Drover's Dream, Alan Scott and the Bushwhackers

1955–1967 – Binny Lum Collection, Binny Lum and interviewees

1956 – The Man from Snowy River, Leonard Teale

Col Joye holding his guitar being led away by two men in white jackets and black bow ties. — Bye Bye Baby, 1959. Col Joye

1956 – Olympic Games, Melbourne 1956: Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony, Official Souvenir Recording

1957 – A Pub With No Beer, Slim Dusty

1958 – My Country, Dorothea Mackellar

1959 – Aboriginal Recordings, John Hutchinson

1959 – Bye Bye Baby, Col Joye

1959 – Come Closer to Me, Pilita Corrales

1960s

1960 – The Art of the Prima Donna, Dame Joan Sutherland

Joan Sutherland wearing a green top and white gloves. — The Art of the Prima Donna, 1960. Dame Joan Sutherland

1960 – She’s My Baby, Johnny O’Keefe

1961 – The Death of a Wombat, Ivan Smith and George S English

1961 – I Only Came to Say Goodbye, Wilma Reading

1961 – Nausicaa: Opera in Three Acts, Peggy Glanville-Hicks

1962 – Georgia Lee Sings the Blues Down Under, Georgia Lee

1962 – I Remember You, Frank Ifield

1962 – I’ve Been Everywhere, Lucky Starr

1962 – 'Louie the Fly' Mortein jingle, Neil Williams and Ross Higgins

1963 – Arnhem Land Popular Classics: Aboriginal Dance Songs with Didjeridu Accompaniment, David Blanasi, Djoli Laiwanga and others

Album cover with a portrait of Georgia Lee and the text 'sings the blues down under'. — Georgia Lee Sings the Blues Down Under, 1962. Georgia Lee

1963 – Bombora, The Atlantics

1963 – Royal Telephone, Jimmy Little

1963 – He's My Blonde-Headed, Stompie Wompie, Real Gone Surfer Boy, Little Pattie and The Statesmen

1963–1997 – The Luise Hercus Collection, AIATSIS Audiovisual Archive

1964 – I’ll Never Find Another You, The Seekers

1964 – The Land Where the Crow Flies Backwards, Dougie Young

1965 – Decimal Currency Jingle, Ted Roberts

1966 – Friday On My Mind, The Easybeats

1966 – In the Head the Fire, Nigel Butterley

1966 – The Loved One, The Loved Ones

1966 – Patrol from Da Nang, Tim Bowden

1966 – Play School Theme (There's a Bear in There), Various performers

Black and white image of a cartoon fly. — Louie the Fly Mortein jingle, 1962. Neil Williams and Ross Higgins

1967 – Fireworks and The Orgasmic Opus, Dr Val Stephen

1967 – Irkanda IV, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

1968 – Bird and Animal Calls of Australia, Harold J Pollock

1968 – Lionel Rose Wins the World Title, Ron Casey

1968 – Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Eric Jupp

1969 – The Real Thing, Russell Morris

1970s

1971 – And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, Eric Bogle

Overhead photo of a destroyed house. — Cyclone Tracy, Darwin, 1974

1971 – Because I Love You, The Master’s Apprentices 

1971 – Eagle Rock, Daddy Cool

1971 – Just the Beginning, Don Burrows Quartet

1972 – I Am Woman, Helen Reddy

1972 – It’s Time, Alison McCallum

1972 – Most People I Know (Think That I’m Crazy), Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs

1972 – A Track Winding Back ; True British Spunk, Barry Humphries and Dick Bentley

1973 – The Loner, Vic Simms

Colourful album cover form Skyhooks showing an illustration of the band walking away from an airplane. — Living in the 70s, 1974. Skyhooks

1973 – Opening Concert Sydney Opera House, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Birgit Nilsson

1973 – The Lord's Prayer, Sister Janet Mead

1974 – Cyclone Tracy, Darwin

1974 – Living in the 70s, Skyhooks

1975 – It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll), AC/DC

1975 – 'Kerr’s cur’ speech, Gough Whitlam

1975 – Heading in the Right Direction, The Renée Geyer Band

1976 – Girls in Our Town, Margret RoadKnight

1976 – Howzat, Sherbet

1976 – (I’m) Stranded, The Saints

1977 – Love is in the Air, John Paul Young

1977 – Menstruation Blues, Robyn Archer

1977 – Stayin' Alive, The Bee Gees

Gough Whitlam on the steps of Parliament House speaking into media microphones. — 'Kerr’s cur’ speech, 1975. Gough Whitlam

1978 – C'mon Aussie C'mon, The Mojo Singers

1978 – Khe Sanh, Cold Chisel

1978 – You’re the One That I Want, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

1979 – Harry Williams and the Country Outcasts, Harry and Wilga Williams and the Country Outcasts

1979 – Up There Cazaly, The Two-Man Band

1979–89 – Sampling Sounds, Fairlight CMI

1979–2005 – Gaywaves, Gaywaves Collective

1980s

1980 – The 4×100 Medley Relay Final at the Moscow Olympics, Norman May

The six members of No Fixed Address crowded together. — We Have Survived, 1981. No Fixed Address

1980 – I Still Call Australia Home, Peter Allen

1981 – Boys in Town, Divinyls

1981 – Brand New Day (Milliya Rumarra), Kuckles

1981 – Down Under, Men at Work

1981 – Improvisation in Acoustic Chambers, Ros Bandt

1981 – Slip! Slop! Slap! jingle, Peter Best and Phillip Adams

1981 – We Have Survived, No Fixed Address

1982 – Don't Change, INXS

1982 – Great Southern Land, ICEHOUSE

1982 – Power and the Passion, Midnight Oil

The five members of Midnight Oil with Peter Garrett at the front. — Power and the Passion, 1982. Midnight Oil

1982 – Solid Rock, Goanna

1982 – The Man from Snowy River soundtrack, Bruce Rowland

1983 – Cattle and Cane, The Go-Betweens

1983 – I Was Only 19 (A Walk in the Light Green), Redgum

1983 – Jailanguru Pakarnu, The Warumpi Band

1985 – Like Wow, Wipeout, Hoodoo Gurus

1985 – Sounds of Then (This is Australia), GANGgajang

1986 – True Blue, John Williamson

1986 – We Are Going, Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker)

1986 – You’re the Voice, John Farnham

Kylie Minogue next to the text 'Kylie: I should be so lucky' — I Should Be So Lucky, 1987. Kylie Minogue

1986 – Wide Open Road, The Triffids

1986–2008 – This Sporting Life, Roy and HG

1987 – I Should Be So Lucky, Kylie Minogue

1987 – Rebetika Songs, Apodimi Compania

1987 – Recording of a Superb Lyrebird at Healesville, Victoria, Greg Wignell

1987 – Voss, Richard Meale

1987 – Neighbours, Barry Crocker

1988 – Tender Prey, Nick Cave and the Bad Seed

1988 – Bicentenary protest coverage, Radio Redfern

1990s

1990 – Dingo, Vicki Powys

Photo of a dingo — Dingo, 1990. Vicki Powys

1990 – Took the Children Away, Archie Roach

1991 – Treaty, Yothu Yindi

1992 – Antarctica: Suite for Guitar and Orchestra, Nigel Westlake

1992 – Redfern Address, Paul Keating

1992–2008 – Songlines: Songs of the East Australian Humpback Whales, Mark Franklin (The Oceania Project)

1993 – Alive and Brilliant, Deborah Conway

1993 – From Little Things (Big Things Grow), Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody

1993–2014 – Deadly Sounds, Vibe Australia

Photo of the members of Silverchair — Tomorrow, 1994. Silverchair

1994 – Tomorrow, Silverchair

1995 – Island Home, Christine Anu

1995 – LSD, djhmc

1995–98 – Martin/Molloy, Tony Martin and Mick Molloy

1997 – I am Australian by Various

1997 – Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden

1998 – Toot, Toot, Chugga, Chugga Big Red Car, The Wiggles

1999 – These Days, Powderfinger

2000s

2001 – Aether, The Necks

2001 – Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers

2003 – Nosebleed Section, Hilltop Hoods

2005 – Wild Swans, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

2008 – Gurrumul, Gurrumul

2008 – Apology to The Stolen Generations, Hon Kevin Rudd AC, 26th Prime Minister of Australia

2010s

2011 – Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye ft. Kimbra

2012 – Concerto of the Greater Sea, Joseph Tawadros

2012 – The Misogyny Speech, Julia Gillard

Sounds of Australia

Related content

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.

Enter the NFSA Our Statement of Reflection