Wilgena and Ooldea, South Australia, 1926. 'SAMA Reel K.'

Archive Collections / Board for Anthropological Research / Series AA346/09 / Wilgena and Ooldea, South Australia, 1926. 'SAMA Reel K.'
BAR Expedition Symbol: B

This is the second of three film titles documenting the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expedition to Wilgena and Ooldea, South Australia during 7-21 May 1926. The expedition party included numerous BAR members.

The party visited localities including Quorn, Port Augusta, Wilgena, Tarcoola and Ooldea. See: TD Campbell 'Notes 1926 Ooldea Trip' (AA 52/1).

The cinematographer was TD Campbell (AA 52). 'SAMA Reel K' is a 16mm positive duplicate made in 1937 of the original 35mm nitrate film. In 1979 the South Australian Museum Archive (SAMA) deposited its nitrate film collection with the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) for cold storage. The original nitrate is managed as 'NFSA Title No. 33555.' The history of the SAMA nitrate film deposit at NFSA in 1979 has been documented in the Series Report (AA 346/9).

The method adopted by BAR expeditions to undertake research and record the results involved assigning a unique number to each individual (here called 'individual subject number'). This number was given the expedition symbol as a prefix, and remained consistent throughout the research. This expedition was assigned the symbol 'B.' All individuals recorded during the expedition were assigned an individual subject number, for example [B5]. Where possible the 'individual subject number' of those who appear in film have been noted.

The summary is in minutes and seconds. Following the summary of this film is a list of references. Formats held: 16mm, SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, DVDs.

Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/1/6)

00:00 'Ooldea, SA, 1926. SAMA Reel K.'

00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'

00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1926.'

01:31 Panorama of the Ooldea soak, buildings and shelters can be seen.

01:56 Two large mallee trees.

02:07 Charlie [B5] of the Jangkundjara people digs up a mallee tree root from the sand with a boomerang.

02:30 Once the whole mallee tree root has been dug up he begins to break it into segments, which he then drains into a dish.

02:44 Dr AJ Lewis recording vocabulary with Tommy [B13] of the Jangkundjara people and another older Australian Aboriginal man. See: TD Campbell 'Notes 1926 Ooldea Trip' (AA 52/1).

03:02 An old Australian Aboriginal man possibly 'Old Charlie' See: TD Campbell (AA 52/1).

03:10 Charlie [B5] of the Jangkundjara people stands in front of the camera blowing into a section of mallee root to extract the water.

03:19 Charlie [B5] of the Jangkundjara people shows the camera how much water has collected in the dish from the draining mallee roots. He proceeds to lift the water with his hand from the dish, then pours the water on the ground.

03:44 Close up of the dried grass and wood with a wedged groove in it, used to make a fire.

03:50 Sequence of shots of the camp, an Australian Aboriginal man approaches the camera with a spear and spear thrower in hand. Many people are sitting on the ground and standing watching the camera.

04:28 Two old Australian Aboriginal men beside a fire.

04:35 An old man gouges out a pirra with a metal instrument.

04:41 End of film [No intertitle]

Tribal / language groups recorded during this expedition as noted in the Data Cards (AA 346/4/7).
Tindale Tribes: Jangkundjara; Ngalea.
AIATSIS Tribal / Language Groups: Yankuntjatjara; Ngalea.

  1. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' DUPLICATE POSITVE
    Characteristics: 16mm, B&W, silent, duplicate positive of original 35mm nitrate, stuck in 1937.
    The original 35mm nitrate managed as 'NFSA, Title No. 33555. Adelaide University Field Expedition to Central Australia. [At the Camp] Can 1 of 2.' The nitrate has deteriorated considerably since 1937 and consequently the 16mm duplicate was transferred. All of this footage is found in the final film production 'Scenes of Aboriginal Life.' Reel K has been spliced with Reel B and J which are 16mm duplicates of 35 mm nitrates shot sequences which were included in the final film production. [Reel B, B&W silent; 157ft; Reel K, B&W silent 117ft.; Reel J, B&W silent 95ft.]

  2. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' MASTER PRESERVATION COPY
    Format: SP Betacam
    Duration: 3 min. 10 sec.
    Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/1/7

  3. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' DUBBING / LOAN COPY
    Format: Digital Betacam
    Duration: 3 min. 10 sec.
    Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/1/8

  4. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' PRESERVATION DVD 1 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 3 min. 10 sec.
    Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/1/9

  5. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' PRESERVATION DVD 2
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 3 min. 10 sec.
    Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/1/9

  6. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' ACCESS DVD 3 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 3 min. 10 sec.
    Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/1/10

  7. WILGENA & OOLDEA, SA, 1926. SAMA 'REEL K,' ACCESS DVD 4
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 3 min. 10 sec.
    Transfer Date 01/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/1/11

  • Campbell, TD 'Notes on 1926 Ooldea Trip [with] A Lewis.' (AA 52/1)

  • Film summary by NB Tindale 'Ooldea film. Broad Track Taken by Dr Campbell and Dr A Lewis Entitled Scenes of Aboriginal Life.' (pp.2.) (AA 346/9/27/1)

  • Film summary by NB Tindale of the SAMA Reels K, J, B, taken at Ooldea, SA. 1926. (pp.5.) (AA 346/9/27/1).

  • Campbell, TD & Lewis, AJ 'The Aborigines of South Australia: Anthropometric, Descriptive and other observations recorded at Ooldea' Trans RSSA 50 [1926] pp. 183 - 191. Includes photos.

  • Anthropological Data Cards recorded during the expedition (AA 346/4/7)

  • Proof of photographic plates for Campbell & Lewis article (AA 346/3)

  • BAR photographs (AA 346/6)

CreatorBoard for Anthropological Research
ControlAA 346/9/1/7-13
Date Range07 May, 1926  -  21 May, 1926
Quantity 16cm,   7   film items. Formats: 16mm, Betacams, DVDs
Series AA346/09
Tindale Tribes: