[George Malins Home Movies: Reel 28]

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 contains scenes from the Royal Melbourne Show and a glimpse of two of the younger members of the family.

Selected highlights list:
00:00:02:00 harness racing track
00:00:05:00 carnival rides
00:00:17:00 Peters brand and Sennets brand ice cream stands among the carnival rides crowds
00:00:35:00 Four and Twenty Pies advertisements on the backs of seats on the Ferris wheel
00:00:35:00 cattle being led in the grand parade
00:01:45:00 draught horses in the parade
00:02:14:00 the two young daughters of the family pose for the camera on their way to or from school