Sound and film archive opens in Tamworth
Region’s History Finds a New Home on Peel Street
Thousands of films, sound recordings and oral histories have found a permanent home at 218 Peel Street, with the official opening of the Tamworth Regional Film and Sound Archive (TRFSA) at its new location today. The Archive, operated by dedicated and passionate volunteers, celebrates the relocation to larger, purpose-suited premises that will not only allow more room for archival equipment but also support the expansion of its volunteer base. “This new space allows us to care for the past while embracing the future,” said TRFSA Chairperson John Vickery. “It eases the pressure of preserving stories and objects with care, and gives us the opportunity to share them with pride for generations to come,” added TRFSA member Ces Ledwos.
Founded over 30 years ago by Bladen Brooke and Arthur Baker, the Archive plays a vital role in preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of the region. It offers a unique glimpse into local life and history dating back as far as 1916.
Today, the Archive is home to around 8,000 cans and cassettes of locally and regionally produced visual material, with more than 20,000 items catalogued in its growing database. All content is carefully collected, digitised, and documented by volunteers, an invaluable resource for researchers, educators, and the broader community. The ongoing support of the Archive is underpinned by Tamworth Regional Council’s Museum and Archive Strategy, a framework that supports ten public museum, archive and social history collections located in the Tamworth Regional Council area.
“The Tamworth Regional Film and Sound Archive has been identified as a nationally significant collection through the National Library of Australia, and includes a sub-collection on the UNESCO memory of the world register. This important archive will now be better positioned to care for and preserve the region’s heritage,” said Director Tamworth Regional Gallery and Museums Bridget Guthrie. “Council has invested in the long-term permanent home for the archive and completed maintenance and building works to ensure the new site is fit for purpose,” Guthrie added.
The Archive now invites schools, community groups and all residents to visit, volunteer or contribute knowledge about items in the collection. You can find the Tamworth Film and Sound Archive at 218 Peel Street, next door to the Tamworth Powerstation Museum. For opening hours, education program bookings, or to arrange a visit, please visit: www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/live/arts-and-culture/film-and-sound-archive.