Fact sheet 115 – Introducing television to Australia, 1956

Introduction

Television was introduced into Australia in September 1956. Since then it has had a major impact on the lifestyles of all Australians. This introduction was controlled largely by government policy, and derived from the findings of the Royal Commission on Television.

The Royal Commission (1953–1954) was established to report on matters such as the number of national commercial television stations which could be effectively established and operated and the standards to be observed in programs to ensure the best use of television broadcasting in the public interest.

This fact sheet identifies records held by the Archives that were created by agencies actively involved in introducing television into Australia.

Records relating to the introduction of television into Australia

Canberra – Royal Commission on Television (CA 2641)

Transcripts of proceedings – by sessions	1953	CP357/1
Transcripts of proceedings in chronological sequence	1953	CP357/2
Transcripts of proceedings, in camera	1953	CP357/3
Summaries of evidence on major issues	1953	CP357/4
Copies of exhibits (not including confidential exhibits)	1953	CP357/5
Exhibits – confidential	1953	CP357/6
Working papers – including drafts of report and printer's copies	1953–54	CP357/9
Files opened by the Commission	1953–54	CP357/10

Canberra – Department of the Senate (CA691) and VS Vincent (CP196)

Personal papers mainly relating to Senate Select Committee on the encouragement of Australian productions for television

1954–64

AA1980/216

Canberra – Prime Minister's Department (CA 12)

	Correspondence files	1951–55	A462
	Correspondence files	1956–ongoing	A463

Canberra – Secretary to the Cabinet/Cabinet Secretariat [I] (CA 3)

Menzies and Holt Ministeries – Cabinet files 'C'

1949–67

A4940

Canberra – Attorney-General's Department, Central Office (CA 5)

Correspondence files

1929–ongoing

A432

Sydney – Australian Broadcasting Commission, Head Office (CA 251)

General files and other records relating to external enquiries involving the ABC	1932–ongoing	C1737
Press cuttings and written publicity, general television and radio	1938–68	SP1011/2
Photographs – Miscellaneous personalities: TV, radio, stage, concert artists etc, including some publicity matter in regard to television	1940–68	SP1011/1
General correspondence files [Talks Department]	1943–ongoing	C1979
(A) General correspondence and policy files and (B) special subject files	1949–54	SP341/1
ABC audience research reports (radio and television)	1950–70	SP1044/1
Correspondence files relating to television	1955–73	C1574
Correspondence files re television programs	1955–ongoing	C2218
Correspondence – television	1955–65	SP727/2
Correspondence re television	1955–63	SP724/2
Correspondence re television programs	1955–74	SP1299/2

Sydney – Bobby Limb (CP 504)

Program and script for the first television broadcast in Australia

1956–ongoing

M2529

Melbourne – Royal Commission on Television (CA 2641)

Exhibits and transcripts of evidence

1953–54

MP1228/3

Melbourne – Australian Broadcasting Control Board, Head Office (CA 124)

General correspondence (TR/5/– relates to the Royal Commission on Television)	1931–60	MP544/2
Policy and general matters regarding broadcasting	1949–70	MP1170/3
Anderson Analysis Radio – surveys for all cities and country areas	1944–63	MP634/1
Booklets containing results of radio and television audience surveys (also known as McNair/Anderson reports)	1949–77	B2591
Policy and general in regards to television	1949–70	MP1170/4
Television inquiries – exhibits including applications	1953–58	MP1228/4
Correspondence files	1956–82	B3430
Anderson Analysis Television – surveys for all cities	1957–63	MP634/2
Television station files relating to technical, programming and licence aspects, which are of historical nature to Australian television media	1955–70	B2152

For more information

You can obtain more information about the record series listed above (and the items within the series) fromRecordSearch, the Archives database. Follow the links in the series lists to go directly to information on that series. You can also use RecordSearch to find out about the agencies that created the records and to locate more records on your subject. You might also explore PhotoSearch to find out if there are photos pertaining to your subject.

RecordSearch and PhotoSearch are available online or in all Archives reading rooms. Reference staff are available in the reading rooms to help you, or email ref@naa.gov.au.

Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au

updated September 2000

Fact sheets

Fact sheet 115 – Introducing television to Australia, 1956

Introduction

Records relating to the introduction of television into Australia

For more information