1975: Living in the Seventies
1975 was a year of transition. Music, art, fashion, literature and film transformed the way we saw the world. The long-running Vietnam War finally ended, while revolutions and conflicts erupted elsewhere in Africa and Asia. Governments across the world struggled with rapidly rising energy prices, unemployment and economic stagnation. The women’s liberation movement challenged many long-held assumptions about the roles of women in society. In Australia, the Whitlam government implemented major social reforms but also found itself mired in a series of political controversies, culminating in its dismissal on 11 November 1975.
Content warning: 1975 was a tumultuous year in world history. There were wars, crime, disasters and political controversies. This exhibition includes some sensitive and distressing material.
Please note: Every reasonable endeavour has been made to contact stakeholders of material included in this exhibition. Where this has not been possible, stakeholders are invited to contact us at exhibitions@nla.gov.au
Exhibition highlights
Bruce Postle, Norman Gunston and Denise Drysdale at the Logie Awards presentation night, each with their Gold Logie, at the Southern Cross Hotel, Melbourne, 12 March 1976, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-148394048
Don Edwards, Percy Trezise and Dick Roughsey discuss a painting of the Rainbow Serpent with Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, 19 March 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-138160481
Penny Tweedie, Unidentified activist attending an address by Jose Ramos-Horta [who would later become president of Timor-Leste], 1975, nla-cat-vn6197605
Wolfgang Sievers, Target store [seen from the parking lot at] Maribyrnong, Victoria, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161088650
Terence E. T. Spencer & Margaret Spencer, Independence Day Celebration (15) Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-145645567
Australian Information Service, Gough Whitlam speaking on the steps of Parliament House, Parliament House, Canberra, 11 November 1975, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-147274349
Sherbet (Musical group), c. 1976, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn5720369
Bernard King, Bernard King's spring cookbook, 1977, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2785443
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2023 National Library of Australia Fellow Dr Lorinda Cramer
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