The Sell: Australian Advertising 1790s to 1990s

This resource has been generously supported by Optus. Through the Digital Thumbprint program and Kids Helpline @ School, Optus supports digital knowledge and the positive use of technology.

Using This Resource

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this resource contains a range of material which may be considered culturally sensitive, including the records of people who have passed away.

This resource is aligned to the Australian Curriculum: English, History and Visual Arts for Year 10 students and the Australian Curriculum: Visual Arts for Year 9. It uses examples of advertising and media drawn from the National Library of Australia’s exhibition The Sell: Australian Advertising 1790s to 1990s and looks at their influence over time.

The resource adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students’ skills as writers, historians and consumers of visual media. It explores the messages, meanings and mechanics behind the ads and what they can tell us about the lives, culture, aspirations, and pressures on and expectations of Australians over two centuries.

The resource is designed to give teachers flexibility. Introductory and concluding activities are provided to focus students on the broad concepts explored in the exhibition. The highlight of this resource is the selection of sources from the National Library of Australia’s collection. The student activities that support these sources cater for a variety of classroom contexts and learning styles.