Wiped: The Destruction Of Australia’s Television History (Documentary)

They were the TV shows Australia loved. Countdown, Bellbird, Number 96, The Graham Kennedy Show, among many, many others. But due to budget constraints and a lack of foresight, thousands of episodes of these series were destroyed; their tapes wiped. Many Australians would be horrified to learn that thousands of episodes of their favourite series do not exist in the archives. But they may also be surprised to learn these same lost programs may exist in the unlikeliest of places; their own homes.

This is the story of Australia’s lost cultural history. A new documentary on a dark period when Australian television networks thought the value of the videotape was more than what was recorded on it.

This is not a documentary about blame, nor is it a witch hunt. This is a story about hope. Hope that the entirety of Bon Scott and AC/DC’s first performance on Australian TV will be found one day, instead of the agonizingly short two second clip that only exists of it. Or the lost episodes of Number 96. Or the footage of Mary Hardy becoming the first person on Australian TV to say fuck. Maybe someone taped it. Or saved some reels from the tip. It might be sitting in a garage. Or in a shed. Or under the stairs…

These broadcasts are important. They have worth. They are ours. Lets get them back.