National Archives of Australia Perth Summer Series

The National Archives of Australia holds one of the country’s most significant collections of historical records, photographs, films, and documents spanning Federation to the present day. Preserving the stories of ordinary and extraordinary Australians alike, the Archives safeguard our shared national memory — and the Western Australian Office plays a vital role, maintaining records that speak directly to the lived experience of life in the west.

The photographs featured on the City of Perth Screens this April have been curated by Tarryn Lawrie, Senior Archival Officer at the National Archives of Australia, Western Australian Office, and are presented as part of the Boorloo Heritage Screenings during the Boorloo Heritage Festival. Spanning four decades of summer leisure, urban life, and community celebration — from swimming lessons at Crawley Bay in 1962 to street concerts on Australia Day 1984 — they offer a wonderful, sun-drenched glimpse into post-mid-century Western Australian culture.

The collection screens daily throughout April 2026.

Exhibition Screenings
The City of Perth Urban Screens host a variety of programs in Northbridge, from formal feature film screenings with beanbag seating to casual sporting events, exhibitions, and short-film screenings. Exhibition screenings like this one are informal events without beanbag seating — visitors are welcome to relax on the Piazza’s lush lawn, savour the renowned culinary delights of Northbridge, or enjoy a stroll along James Street, taking in the vibrant artwork.

City of Perth Northbridge Piazza Superscreen & City of Perth Forrest Place Arts Screen are initiatives of the City of Perth.