Five rare pinball machines manufactured by the Hankin Pinball Company in Newcastle are set to join the collection of our National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA).

A man standing next to a pinball machine titled Dennis Lillee’s Howzat!.

The NFSA has acquired a collection of classic 1980's pinball machines with the support of the National Cultural Heritage Account—Orbit 1 (1978), FJ Holden (1978), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Dennis Lillee's Howzat! (1980) and Shark (1980).

Sure to evoke nostalgia, the 5 arcade games represent a complete set of the model range produced between 1978 and 1980 by A Hankin & Company. The Hankin Company was one of the few Australian companies to design and build pinball machines, for use in Australia and around the world. The collection is exceptionally rare, with no comparable set of Australian-made or Australian-themed pinball machines in any other public collection in Australia.

Since 2019, the NFSA has been committed to collecting video games, which form an important part of our cultural and social heritage. Pinball machines were enormously popular in 1970s and 1980s Australia. The Hankin games provide a window into Australia's early gaming culture and entertainment history. Their iconic Australian imagery and themes reflect aspects of our national identity during that era, celebrating key national obsessions from cricket to cars. The collection also tells a story of technological change, and the transition from non-electronic to fully digital gaming.

The NFSA intends to display the pinball machines later this year, in operational and playable condition, for the enjoyment of Australians of all ages.

The National Cultural Heritage Account provides support for Australian cultural institutions to acquire, protect and provide access to significant objects of Australian heritage to ensure they are kept in the country and enjoyed by the public. Organisations can apply for funding at any time.

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