Take a voyage of discovery with Chris Taylor

Tuesday 4 August 2009

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett, in conjunction with Screen Australia today launched Australia’s Heritage—National Treasures – a series of ten mini-documentaries for television and a resource-rich website for education.

Australia’s Heritage—National Treasures is a multiplatform project produced through Screen Australia’s National Documentary Program in partnership with the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. The television series, produced by Hugh Piper and written and directed by Matthew Thomason, is made in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The companion website is a Digital Learning Program executive produced by Anna Grieve and directed by James Boldiston.

The Chaser’s Chris Taylor hosts the series. He travels around Australia delivering historical snapshots of places that are an irreplaceable part of our national story. He talks with experts and enthusiasts, revealing fascinating insights into our famous and not-so-famous past.

“The mini-documentary series and website will introduce a whole new generation of Australians to our heritage, from stories about Ned Kelly to Francis De Groot’s upstaging of the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge through to the inspiring story of the Vincent Lingiari led Wave Hill Walk-off,” said The Hon. Peter Garrett MP, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts.

“Screen Australia is about great Australian stories however they are presented on the screen. Today, we celebrate 10 stories inspired by places on the National Heritage List,” said Dr Ruth Harley, CEO, Screen Australia.

The television series premieres on Thursday 6th August at 6:50pm on ABC1. Accompanying the television series is an extensive digital learning website taking National Heritage places into the classroom. This dynamic video-rich site features fast facts, a student quiz and classroom activities.

Explore the website live today at: www.screenaustralia.gov.au/learning/heritage.

For further information and images from the launch please contact:

Victoria Buchan, The Lantern Group, victoria@lanterngroup.com.au
T: (02) 9383 4033  M: 0408 114 864