Exhibition Review: Visual Art | Brian Rope
Living
in the Seventies | from the collections of the National Library of Australia
(NLA)
NLA
Treasures Gallery | 14 August 2025 to 1 February 2026
Dr Guy Hansen, the library’s Director of Exhibitions says Living in the Seventies explores whether there is more to 1975 than a dose of Baby Boomer nostalgia. “Looking at the collections held by the National Library of Australia reveals a much more complex story about a fascinating time in Australian history.” To consider the truth of that, I’ll focus on how exhibits in this great exhibition of posters, books, photos and more impacted on me (slightly older than the Baby Boomers).
The end of 1974 saw tropical Cyclone Tracy devastate Australia’s most northern city, Darwin. During a family get together, my brother-in-law received orders to prepare himself to go to Darwin the next day as part of the disaster relief contingent. That affected all our family, and most certainly had a major impact on him.
In 1975 music, art, fashion, literature and film transformed our view of the world. Significant films including Picnic at Hanging Rock and The Removalists proved we wanted to see Australian stories on the big screen. I certainly wanted to see more. Our favourite television show Countdown provided a soundtrack for suburban life with glam rockers Skyhooks. I watched the show regularly. And who didn’t love AC/DC and Aunty Jack?
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| Ego is not a dirty word_nla.cat-vn1843249 |
Attending the exhibition’s media preview provided an opportunity to chat with one of our favourite Australian TV personalities who entertained us through the seventies. No, it wasn’t Norman Gunston who was crowned “King of Canberra” in 1976. It was Denise Drysdale sharing some memories and reflections of the 70s – from TV to fashion, feminism and politics, and how 70s events still influence Australians today.
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| Norman Gunston and Denise Drysdale_nla.obj-148394048 |
The long-running Vietnam War which had a powerful impact on Australians finally ended. I wasn’t called up for Army service, but I knew a few people who were. The protest marches at that time recently very much came to mind again, with recent major marches relating to the current Gaza situation drawing comparisons.
Australia’s Federal government led by Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam implemented major social reforms including no-fault divorce but also found itself mired in a series of political controversies. The women’s liberation movement challenged many long-held assumptions about the roles of women. Funded projects for 1975’s International Women’s Year included another feature film, Caddie, a study of the working conditions of migrant women, and the establishment of various women’s centres and refuges. My wife was one of many women who had to resign as a public servant following our marriage in 1965. I knew activist and academic Elizabeth Reid before she was appointed, in a world first, as Women’s Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister.
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| Women on the march_nla.obj-137045864 |
1975 ended dramatically. Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed the government on 11 November. I was then working for the Australian Public Service Board in offices quite close to the then Parliament House. After hearing rumours, I joined others running to see what was happening. We made it in time to hear Whitlam make his famous speech on the steps of the House.
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| Newspaper vendor_nla.obj-152388014 |
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| Colour TV What to look for_nla.cat-vn1285282 |
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| Margaret Fulton Crockpot Cookbook_nla.cat-vn2834240 |
