Site Last Updated
12th December 2008

The Beginning

The association was founded in 1985. By February 1986 the collection had grown to hundreds of records dating back to the early nineteen hundreds, and many mantel wirelesses and gramophones. The collection now exceeds 50 000 records and includes a number of rare Edison cylinders and records.
The Centre has also on display a number of old camera's, movie and slide projectors.

Memorabilia relating to sound has been donated, such as programs of stage and screen, concerts performed in Hobart and other places around Tasmania.
There are many items that can be attributed to sound in the way of street noises - gatherings at market places, people singing in the street, children at play, particular traffic noises that belong to a city or town.

March 17, 1989 saw the official opening of Spat's first Resource/Research Centre at Campbell Street, Hobart. The building was provided by Screensound Australia and was occupied by SPAT until it was sold in 1998.

The association then moved to its current premises in the "Old Bellerive Post Office" which was made available by and leased from the Clarence City Council. The support that we have received from Screen sound Australia, the Tasmanian Government through its Arts Council, the general public and the Association's members has been responsible for the name SPAT being respected and recognised throughout Tasmania and the Mainland.

SPAT needs ongoing support to continue to make a success of this first for Tasmania. By appointment, organisations and institutions are welcome to visit the Centre in order to view the collection or listen to their favourite songs and artists from yesteryear.
The Sound Preservation Associations associated with Screensound Australia whom provide us with historical information relating to Australian sound and films which are not available on the records at the Spat Centre.

 

Memories

Have you ever thought about the wealth of history locked up in a relative's memory? Our senior citizens are a 'gold mine' of historical knowledge. We all should endeavour to record these valuable memoirs onto tape. When we lose these dear old people, we also lose our day-to-day history of what life was like when they were children. Nowadays, we have facilities available to record these memoirs quickly and easily onto cassette tape. We hope that all of our members will join in by helping to record these reminiscences before it is to late - we will supply the recorder and tape if required.

This is just another facet of the Sound Preservation Association. We must not lose any more recorded sound that relates to our past, and in particular, here in Tasmania.