In 1968 Elvis' gold Cadillac toured around Australia raising money for several charity organisations. This was the closest Australians got to a tour from the King himself. And yet, Australia's fascination with Elvis Presley continues to this day. Each year the population of Parkes, New South Wales, swells by an estimated 18,000 Elvis fans who brave searing summer temperatures to celebrate lycra jumpsuits, big sideburns, quiffs, rock-star sunglasses and all-things-Elvis at the Parkes Elvis Festival.
In preparation for the Elvis at 21 exhibition, on display at the National Portrait Gallery from 7 December 2013 – 10 March 2014, we wanted to gain a greater appreciation of what Elvis means to Australians today. We would like to thank the following die-hard Elvis fans from Canberra and surrounding areas for sharing their insights into the phenomenon that was Elvis Presley. This suite of interviews is also available on the National Portrait Gallery's Youtube channel.
