A selection of films belonging to former Australian prime minister Harold Holt has been given by his family to the National Archives of Australia for safekeeping.

His son Sam Holt presented several canisters of film to Ross Gibbs, Director-General of the National Archives today (Wednesday 31 October).

‘We are delighted that the Holt family has decided to ensure the preservation of these films for future generations of Australians by depositing them with the National Archives,’ said Mr Gibbs.

The canisters contain eight different films including a fishing trip to the Great Barrier Reef on the prime minister’s birthday in 1967, with BP Pick-a-Box television personalities Bob and Dolly Dyer and other friends. A handwritten note on the canister reads: Hope you enjoy it, Harold, Regards Bob Dyer.

The film includes footage of the prime minister collecting shells with Dolly Dyer, enjoying a picnic, collecting plants for his wife Zara, spearfishing, being smothered in suntan oil and risking his life to save a trapped speargun given to him as a gift by American President Lyndon B Johnson.

Other films include underwater skin diving sequences, a Cabinet meeting during the 1960s (mute), various aspects of a visit by the prime minister to South East Asia and a copy of The Seekers Downunder which featured Harold Holt escorting the singing group around Canberra.

‘The National Archives is fortunate to have in its collection a wide range of personal items which belonged to Harold Holt, including his briefcase and its contents which are on display in our Memory of a Nation exhibition,’ said Mr Gibbs.

‘We are very pleased to have these extra films which were in his personal collection. They will be a welcome addition to the films we already hold that feature Mr Holt and the other items that portray his life, both as a prime minister and an Australian.’