It’s been a big week for acquisitions at Canberra’s collecting institutions, with new additions ranging from rare Australian pinball machines to historic paintings and early Canberra furniture.

The National Film and Sound Archive has acquired five rare Australian-designed pinball machines produced by Newcastle amusement company A. Hankin & Company between 1978 and 1980. The machines are the only locally designed examples from pinball’s golden age.

Each machine reflects colourful themes designed to attract players. Titles include Orbit 1, FJ—inspired by the Holden FJ and featuring the tune “C’mon Aussie C’mon”—and Shark, which references Newcastle’s surfing culture.

Another machine, Howzat!, celebrates fast bowler Dennis Lillee and features cricket-themed gameplay where players score runs and take wickets.

A final machine made global history when Lucasfilm authorised the use of the Star Wars brand in exchange for a machine for filmmaker George Lucas. Hankin’s The Empire Strikes Back became the first licensed Star Wars-branded pinball machine in the world.

Meanwhile, Canberra Museum + Gallery has announced three major acquisitions.

They include the large-scale 1913 painting The Federal Capital Site, Canberra by William Nicholls Anderson. Measuring more than two metres wide, the panoramic work depicts the Molonglo Valley before the city was built and was created to promote the proposed site for the new national capital.

The gallery is also launching a public appeal to acquire Wool Clip (1995) by Rosalie Gascoigne. Despite Gascoigne’s profound connection to the region, CMAG has never owned one of her original works. The work is currently on display while fundraising continues, allowing visitors to view it in person and support its addition to the city’s collection.

The final acquisition is early Canberra furniture designed by Ruth Lane-Poole, the first woman appointed by the Australian Government to advise on furnishing official residences, including those of the governor-general and prime minister.