Archie Roach song now part of ‘the nation’s memory’

A ballad about the Stolen Generation is among 10 songs added to National Archive's registry of culturally significant recordings.
[This is archived content and may not display in the originally intended format.]

Aboriginal singer’s 1990 ballad about the Stolen Generation is among 10 songs added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s registry of culturally significant recordings.

Roach’s heartfelt ballad, ‘Took the Children Away’, was included in the NFSA’s Sounds of Australia register alongside nine other recordings, including the 1969 pop song ‘The Real Thing’ by Russell Morris and a 1987 environmental recording of a lyrebird.

Unlock Padlock Icon

Unlock this content?

Access this content and more

Richard Watts is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM, and serves as the Chair of La Mama Theatre's volunteer Committee of Management. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, and was awarded the status of Melbourne Fringe Living Legend in 2017. In 2020 he was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize. Most recently, Richard was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Green Room Awards Association in June 2021. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts