Whatever their origin point and however we draw boundaries around them, Anzac biscuits are a culturally significant food capable of bringing us together in times of adversity.

Lindsay Kelley

Few things feel more quintessentially Australian than a golden Anzac biccie and a cup of tea. Scholars and historians have long debated every aspect of the Anzac biscuit’s history, yet origin stories for the recipe remain controversial. With their long shelf life and simple ingredients, Anzac biscuits are a symbol of survival and resilience – making them the ideal comfort food for Australians and New Zealanders in challenging times. They remind us of Australia and New Zealand’s past, and invite us to imagine a collective future after COVID-19, when we can share a cup of tea and a biscuit in person.
 

Lindsay Kelley is an artist and lecturer at UNSW Art & Design. Kelley’s work in the kitchen explores how the experience of eating changes when technology is being eaten. Kelley has exhibited work at the Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and currently holds a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award from the Australian Research Council.

Twitter: @extremebaking
 

A UNSW Centre for Ideas and Grand Challenges program collaboration.

Illustrations designed by Juune Lee. Filmed and edited by Paper Moose. Footage filmed at the EPICentre, a UNSW research centre located at the Art & Design campus.