[George Malins Home Movies: Reel 21]

George William Malins (1910–2007) was an amateur filmmaker who made home movies in Australia and overseas from the 1940s to 1970s. According to his daughter, George was ‘optimistic, happy and enthusiastic’, an outlook reflected in his films which are a history of home life and a love of travel.

George came to Australia from England as a young man by way of the merchant navy, after having seen South America and some of Asia. He met his future wife Sybil, who was impressed by George’s world travels and his dreams for the future.

The family lived in the Melbourne suburb of North Balwyn, spending their summers camping at Wye River on the Victorian coast often with extended family and friends.

George and Sybil must have shared a sense of adventure as they eventually sold the family home and sailed on the ‘SS Orontes’ to England, travelling around Britain for two years.

The George Malins Home Movie Collection was donated to ACMI by the creator’s daughter, Ruth Hargrave. The films were made on 16mm film.

This short film takes a quick look at a family home where we see a 1940s style ute, which can then be seen on a trip to Goulburn in New South Wales. There is also a quick view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and surrounding harbour.

Selected hightlights list:
00:00:02:00 a smiling young man carries his bicycle down the steps of a shed
00:00:15:00 riding his bike up a hill from his house
00:00:15:00 looking back at the house with orange coloured roses out the front followed by an older man walking toward the camera, wearing a 1940s style suit and hat and alongside a 1940s style utility vehicle
00:00:38:00 looking up and under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
00:00:51:00 welcome sign for the ‘City of Goulburn’
00:01:07:00 1940s style truck loaded with 40 gallon drums
00:01:15:00 bird in a tree with a mirror