Reception this way: motels - a sentimental journey with Tim Ross.
Event Details
Opening Event - Reception this way: motels - a sentimental journey with Tim Ross.
Travel around Australia revisiting your memories of the classic Aussie motel, from family holidays and long road trips to continental breakfasts and mid-century mod-cons.
In a land where the car has provided us with the ultimate freedom to hit the road and explore, it is no surprise that Australians wholeheartedly embraced the American concept of the motel. When motels began springing up in the 1950s, they represented a new, stylish and sophisticated way to travel.
Join Whitlam Institute partnering with National Archives Australia and Tim Ross on a driving holiday through the quintessential Australian experience of staying in a motel and find out why these images are part of the national archival collection.
This exhibition is supported by the National Collecting Institutions Touring and Outreach Program, an Australian Government program aiming to improve access to the national collections for all Australians.
Wednesday, 25 November 2026 @ Whitlam Institute
As places are limited, registrations are essential.
5:30pm - Refreshments served
6:00pm - Exhibition opening with guest speaker Tim Ross, celebrated comedian, author, radio host, television presenter and passionate advocate for architecture and design.
6:30-8pm - Exhibition viewing
The exhibition will be open from 26 November 2026 to 14 April 2027.
About the Artist
Tim Ross
Tim Ross is an acclaimed comedian, broadcaster and design enthusiast whose work brings together humour, architecture and cultural storytelling to explore Australian identity and the way we live. As the creator and presenter of ABC series Streets of Your Town and Designing A Legacy, Tim examines how the places we build reflect our values, collective histories and aspirations for the future. Through his distinctive blend of humour, nostalgia and storytelling, Tim invites audiences to reflect on the relationship between people, place and progress. These ideas resonate with Reception this Way, encouraging audiences to consider how the decisions we make today shape the communities and legacies of tomorrow.
Exhibition Highlights
About the NAA
National Archives of Australia
The National Archives of Australia (NAA) is the nation's custodian of Australian Government records, preserving and sharing the stories, decisions and experiences that have shaped Australia's history and identity. Through its extensive collections of photographs, documents and audiovisual records, the National Archives offers a unique window into Australia's social and cultural history, capturing everything from significant national events to the everyday experiences of Australians. In partnership with Tim Ross, the National Archives developed Reception this Way: Motels – A Sentimental Journey with Tim Ross, drawing on its rich photographic collection to explore the rise of the Australian motel and its place in our national story. Through nostalgic imagery and cultural storytelling, the exhibition celebrates the golden age of road trips, mid-century design and the changing ways Australians travelled, holidayed and connected.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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