[Nicoll Family Home Movies: Reel 1]

Alexander (Alex) Nicoll (1898–1968) grew up in Princes Hill in Melbourne.

As a young man, and after working in various capacities, Alex met wealthy business owner Arthur Thomas who assisted him into business running an import agency at Tasmania House in Flinders Lane. Alex would enjoy a lifelong involvement with Melbourne’s ‘rag trade’ (clothing business) in Flinders Lane, including serving for some years as the President of the Victorian Softgoods Association.

In the 1930s Alex inherited an Agfa 16mm camera, projector and collapsible screen from Arthur Thomas who had been a keen photographer, and over the 1940s and 1950s would capture wonderful moments around Melbourne such as the celebrations for the 1956 Olympics and visits to the beaches of Port Phillip Bay.

After Alexander died, his son Mac continued the family filming enthusiasm in the 1960s and 1970s. Around 2005, the Nicoll family decided to donate most of their collection of films to ACMI.

This reel captures a military parade likely to be sometime in the 1940s down Alexandra Parade, Moonee Ponds and some garden views.

Selected highlight list:

00:00:00:05 a crowd lines the street (most likely Mt Alexander Road near Moonee Ponds Town Hall, the family lived in Essendon)
00:00:00:28 soldiers parade down the street before a crowd of onlookers
00:00:00:51 parade passes a dais on which people stand, one in a mayoral robe and chain of office
00:01:12:00 military trucks and equipment can be seen in the parade
00:01:38:00 soldiers relaxing on the lawn with members of the crowd after the parade