Efftee Studios was established by F.W. Thring (the name 'Efftee' deriving from his initials, 'FT') in 1930 and existed until Thring's death in 1935. Initially Efftee Films was based in Melbourne and used optical sound equipment imported from the USA.
In 1931, the company produced the first commercially viable Australian made sound feature film, Diggers. Over the next five years, Efftee produced nine features, over 80 shorts and several stage productions, including the Australian musicals Collits' Inn (1933) and The Cedar Tree (1934). Notable collaborators include C. J. Dennis, George Wallace and Frank Harvey.
In 1934, Thring suspended Efftee's operations to pressure the government to establish a quota for Australian films, threatening to move production to London. He relocated production to Sydney to take advantage of the New South Wales Cinematograph Films (Australian Quota) Act 1935.
Efftee was also the first licensee of Melbourne radio station 3XY which began broadcasting on 9 September 1935.
Thring traveled to Hollywood in March 1936 to look for scriptwriters and actors and returned in June but died soon after.
F.W. Thring was the father of the Australian and international actor, Frank Thring.
A Co-respondent's Course (1931)Diggers (1931)The Haunted Barn (1931)The Sentimental Bloke (1932)His Royal Highness (1932)Harmony Row (1933)A Ticket in Tatts (1934)Sheepmates (1934) – abandoned during filmingThe Streets of London (1934)Clara Gibbings (1934)Diggers in Blighty (1933)Waltzing Matilda (1933)Heritage (1935)Will Cade and his Regent Theatre Orchestra in Selections from 'The Desert Song' (1931)Jack O'Hagan – Vocalist Composer (1931) – with Jack O'HaganCecil Parkes' Strad Trio In Selections from Their Repertoire (1931)Athol Tier as Napoleon (1931)Keith Desmond in Recitations (No. 1) (1931)Keith Desmond in Recitations (No. 2) (1931)George Wallace, Australia's Premier Comedian (1931) – with George WallaceMelody and Terpsichor (1931)Stan Ray and George Moon Jnr, Speciality Dancers (No. 1) (1931)Stan Ray and George Moon Jnr, Speciality Dancers (No. 2) (1931)Melbourne's Chinese Orchestra in Selections (1931)Minnie Love In Impressions of Famous Artists (No. 1) (1931)Minnie Love In Impressions of Famous Artists (No. 2) (1931)Minnie Love In Impressions of Famous Artists (No. 3) (1931)The Sundowners – Harmony Quartette (No. 1) (1932)The Sundowners – Harmony Quartette (No. 2) (1932)Lou Vernon – Character Songs (No. 1) (1932)Kathleen Goodall – Songs at the Piano (No. 1) (1932)Kathleen Goodall – Songs at the Piano (No. 2) (1932)Kathleen Goodall – Songs at the Piano (No. 3) (1932)Peter Bornstein, Celebrated Violinist (1932)George White (1932)Miss Ada Reeve – Comedienne (No. 1) (1932) – with Ada ReeveMiss Ada Reeve – Comedienne (No. 2) (1932)Miss Byrl Walkley, Soprano (1932)Somewhere South of Shanghai, Rendered by Marshall Crosby (1932)Neil McKay, Scottish Comedian (1932) – with Neil McKayWilliamson Imperial Grand Opera Co. Orchestra – Overture from Carmen, by Bizet (1932)Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Co. Orchestra – Overture from Gounod's Faust (1932)Williamson Imperial Grand Opera Co. Orchestra – Selections from the Barber of Seville by Rossini (1932)Signor Apollo Granforte and the Williamson Imperial Grand opera Company Orchestra (1932)Lou Vernon – Character Songs (No. 2) (1932)Oh, What a Night! (1932) – 14 minute short starring George WallaceIn the Future (1933) – 12 minute shortCollits' Inn (1933)The Beloved Vagabond (1934) – done in MelbourneMother of Pearl (1934) – done in MelbourneHer Past (1934)Jolly Roger (1934)Children in Uniform (1934)S.S. Sunshine (1935)The Cedar Tree (1934)Crazy Nights Revue (1935)The Oojah Bird (1935)Rope (1934)Streets of London (1933) – later filmedClara Gibbings (1933) – later filmedadaptation of Ginger Murdoch, a book by William Hatfield, but it never eventuatedadaptation of Collitt's Innadaptation of the book James! Don't Be a Fool by E. V. Timms with an adaptation by John P. McLeodadaptation of John P. McLeod's book Along the Road with a script to be done by McLeodA Sweepin' the Deep with George Wallaceadaptation of Redheap by Norman Lindsay – £1,000 reportedly paid for the rightsTyphoon Treasure – later made by othersadaptation of Robbery Under Arms as a stage musical then a film