Ten audio recordings illustrating Australia’s cultural and political life and environment have been added to the National Film & Sound Archive’s  Sounds of Australia collection.

The 2024 additions include Tina Arena’s Chains, the Victoria Bitter ad, the last call of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle, The Speaking Clock and Nova Peris’ inaugural speech to the Australian Parliament.

Established in 2007, Sounds of Australia is the NFSA’s annual collection of sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance, reflecting life in Australia.

Nominations from the public, which must be of recordings that are at least 10 years old, are then voted on by a panel of industry and NFSA sound experts.

The 2024 Sounds of Australia are:

1. Women’s status in the United Nations Charter: an address to the first meeting of the Women’s International Radio League, Jessie Street – 1945
2. Speaking clock, Gordon Gow (Postmaster General’s Department) – 1954
3. Doctor Who theme music, Ron Grainer (composer), Delia Derbyshire (musician) – 1963
4. Victoria Bitter ad, John Meillon (voice), George Patterson (agency), for Carlton & United Breweries – 1968
5. Jimmie Barker Collections, Jimmie Barker – 1972
6. The earliest 2EA (now SBS Audio) broadcast recordings in language – 1975
7. ‘Kickin’ to the Undersound’, Sound Unlimited – 1992
8. ‘Chains’, Tina Arena – 1994
9. Last call of the Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi) – 2009
10. Nova Peris’ inaugural speech to Australian Parliament – 2013