A selection of Australia's earliest surviving sound recordings.

Image: Edison Spring Phonograph from the Thomas Rome Collection.
NFSA Title No: 1060808

Australia's oldest sound recordings

Vocalist John James Villiers, with piano accompaniment, performs a song which features imitations of chooks. 'The Hen Convention’ was recorded in 1896 by Thomas Rome and is the earliest known Australian sound recording.  The recording was made on a wax cylinder.

NFSA Title No: 452097

Thomas Rome photo courtesy Arts Centre, Performing Arts Collection, Melbourne, and Rosemary Szente.

Thomas Rome - The Hen Convention (1896)

This is a re-creation of the derailment of a train that occurred between Allansford and Warrnambool on 11 March 1897 recorded by Thomas Rome. 
Drum virtuoso George Twentyman, known as 'Herr Schoot’, created effects to mimic the sounds of a steam train pulling out from a station and then leaving the rail. It was recorded by Thomas Rome.

Image courtesy Corangamite Regional Library Corporation.

NFSA Title No: 452185

Thomas Rome - Warrnambool Railway Accident (c.1897)

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