About us

The Sound Preservation Association of Tasmania is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation which was founded in 1985 by the late Gwen D’Emden OAM and a small group of friends. Since then, the collection has grown by donation and on occasions by purchase to hundreds of records and objects dating back to the early nineteen hundreds.

SPAT’s collection includes mantel radios, gramophones and telephones, as well as recording, broadcast and projection equipment. Much of the collection is on display and in good working order. See our collection here.

The Association also maintains a collection of recordings which now exceeds 70,000 items and includes early 78s and vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs and a number of rare Edison cylinders.

Listen to the ABC Radio National program Soundproof about the Sound Preservation Association of Tasmania here