Summers Past: Golden Days in the Sun 1950 – 1970

This stunning showcase of photographs from the National Archives taken in the 1950s and 1960s vividly remind us of our enduring love affair with the sun and the sea. These images originally from the Australian News and Information Bureau stir memories of idyllic summers spent at the beach. For those who grew up in Australia during this time, these photographs should gently stir memories of idyllic summers spent at the beach.Memorable images of summers spent outdoors: visits to the seaside, a nearby river lake or the local swimming pool to bake and play in the sun; the many fashion statements that could be made by wearing a favourite pair of cossies, togs or bathers; caravan holidays; tennis lessons and cricket matches or just hanging around with mates. During this time, the government photographers reeled off hundreds of thousands of candid snaps of people, activities and events, mainly to help promote Australia overseas. The images showcased in Summers Past were all selected from the Archives' vast photographic collection, mainly from the store of Australian News and Information Bureau images – half a million photographs dating from the late 1940s to the early 1990s.