[George Malins Home Movies: Reel 24]

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 film features vintage cars departing on a Veteran Car Rally that took place between London and Brighton, with models including Clément-Bayard, Fiat and Métallurgique cars from the 1900s and 1910s.

Selected highlights list:
00:00:02:00 two men working on a Clément-Bayard car with burgundy leather interior
00:00:16:00 two men driving a cream-coloured Fiat car
00:00:52:00 close up of the front of a red and black Métallurgique model
00:01:26:00 the departure of a green 1912 Rover
00:01:52:00 two men in an open red 1905 Itala, with cover over their legs
00:03:35:00 a man and woman in a red 1916 Ford T