University Library

Unique 1940s political advertisements now available online

The University of Melbourne Archives has conserved and digitised the only known recordings of one of Australia's most significant political campaigns, the John Henry Austral program, now available online

The John Henry Austral programs were developed by the Liberal Party of Australia for the 1949 federal election campaign. Of the 200 episodes that were originally broadcast, 22 are now available through the University of Melbourne Archives. The campaign was the first centralised, national political campaign on radio. The episodes are 15 minute dramatisations discussing issues of the time including communism, price rises, the black market and much more. The recordings are now available online.

Contact: Katie Wood

Phone: (03) 8344 6848

top of page