The Deserts Were Cleared

To celebrate UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage 2022 we're sharing a series of short documentaries showcasing our rich collection of audio-visual media created by Commonwealth government agencies and departments. ‘The Deserts Were Cleared’ tells the story of the weapons testing conducted in the Woomera and Central Desert regions, which led to Indigenous people being removed from their land. The film features oral history recordings of Walter McDougall, who recorded the famous 1964 footage of ‘first contact’ with the Martu people. National Archives of Australia is the primary custodian of moving image and sound created by Commonwealth government agencies and departments. Our Defend the Past, Protect the Future Program is working to digitally preserve 270,000 critical at-risk collection items, including those stored on magnetic media. Learn more about the project on our website: https://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/who-w... Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this video contains images and voices of people who have died. Special thanks to film maker John Hughes, and Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) and Ara Irititja archives for clearances regarding use of the footage belonging to indigenous communities. #WorldDayforAudiovisualHeritage2022 #UNESCO #Deadline2025 #DefendThePastProtectTheFuture