A story in The Advertiser last weekend was about how Director, Scott Hicks is lending his star power in a bid to help save historic South Australian films that are at risk of being lost forever.

The State Library of South Australia has a film collection which includes Super 8 and 16mm films. To preserve and share the more than 7500 films, the Library’s In-House Digitising project requires a $200,000 digital film scanner.

The report went on to say that the oldest films in the archives shows horse-drawn fire engines travelling down the city’s Wakefield Street in 1912, while another shows bathing beauties at the Adelaide City baths in what is now the Festival Centre Plaza. The collection includes films taken by Sir John Langdon Bonython in the 1930s-1940s and footage by Jim Long on his property, which later became the Deep Creek Conservation Park.

Carolyn Pickles, Chair of the State Library Foundation said it was a ‘terrific project’ that was shedding light on South Australia’s past.

The Foundation has already received about $50,000 in donations, and they are requesting the help of the public to help with further funding for this important project. So join Scott Hicks, and help save South Australia’s Historic Films. If you wish to send a donation to the State Library Foundation please send an email to manager@slsafoundation.org.au.