Musgrave Ranges, North West of South Australia [and adjacent parts of Western Australia], 1966.

Archive Collections / Board for Anthropological Research / Series AA346/09 / Musgrave Ranges, North West of South Australia [and adjacent parts of Western Australia], 1966.
BAR Expedition Symbol: AS

This film documents the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expedition to Musgrave Ranges, NW of South Australia and adjacent parts of Western Australia, during 5-25 February 1966.

The expedition party visited localities including: Musgrave Park, Musgrave Ranges, No. 25 Bore, Ngalpo:nja, Bell Rock Range, Mount Caroline and Cave Hill [Owalinga]. See: 'Journal of Visit to the North West of South Australia in February 1966 by Norman B Tindale. 1966'. (AA 338/1/22/2)

The cinematographer was NB Tindale. The expedition party included numerous (BAR) members.

This film was not completed. See: NB Tindale's 'Notes on partly processed 16mm films,' July 1974. (AA 346/9/27/6).

The film was shot by NB Tindale (AA 338) and was previously held in the NB Tindale collection as 'No.25 Bore, Musgrave Range, 1966 Reel 1-2.' Acc. No. 1023-1024 until transferred into the BAR collection (AA 346) in December 2005.

Unlike all previous BAR expeditions, 'individual subject numbers' were not assigned during this trip. A 'list of people associated with work at No. 25 Bore W. Musgraves, Feb. 1966' is within NB Tindale's Journal (AA 338/1/22/2).

Note that the time coded summary is in minutes and seconds. Following the summary of this film is a list of references and further notes. Formats Held: 16mm B&W Silent, SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, Access DVDs.

Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/25/6).

01:30 Musgrave Ranges, NW of South Australia and adjacent parts of Western Australia, 1966.

00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'

00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1966.'

01:30 Men women and children of the Nakako and Pitjandjara people gather spinifex grass, No. 25 Bore, Musgrave Range, South Australia. See: NB Tindale's 'Notes on partly processed 16mm films,' July 1974. (AA 346/9/27/6).

01:53 End of footage.

01:56 Jackie Bellrock and his wife Njuwara of the Nakako people, manufacture resin from spinifex grass. See: (AA 338/1/22/2), pp.64, 93.

02:06 Close up of Jackie Bellrock of the Nakako people beating a bunch of spinifex grass to dislodge the resin.

02:16 End of footage.

02:18 Close up of Jackie Bellrock of the Nakako people separating out the spinifex grass from the pile of resin.

02:46 Njuwara of the Nakako people winnowing spinifex resin from lighter waste material.

02:55 End of footage.

02:57 Close up of the Njuwara of the Nakako people winnowing spinifex resin from lighter waste material.

03:21 End of footage.

03:31 Njuwara of the Nakako people winnowing spinifex resin.

03:51 End of footage.

03:59 Tjibukudu of the Nakako people using a stone to make incisions on his spear for the purpose of personal identification. No. 25 Bore, Musgrave Range, South Australia. 'When it became blunt he sharpened it against his spear.' (AA 338/1/22/2), pp.69, 98.

16:15 End of Footage.


  1. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. MASTER POSITIVE, REEL 1-2

  2. Characteristics: 16mm, Kodachrome, silent, 200ft. Note: This film was previously referred to as 'Bore No.25, Musgrave Range'
  3. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. MASTER PRESERVATION COPY
    Format: SP Betacam
    Duration: 4 min 44 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/25/1

  4. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. DUBBING / LOAN COPY
    Format: Digital Betacam
    Duration: 4 min 44 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/25/2

  5. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. PRESERVATION DVD 1 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 4 min 44 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/25/3

  6. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. PRESERVATION DVD 2
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 4 min 44 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/25/3

  7. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. ACCESS DVD 3 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 4 min 44 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/25/4

  8. MUSGRAVE RANGES, NW OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA [AND ADJECENT PARTS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA], 1966. ACCESS DVD 4
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 4 min 44 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/25/5

  • 'Journal of Visit to the North West of South Australia in February 1966 by Norman B. Tindale. 1966'. (AA 338/1/22/2)

  • NB Tindale's 'Notes on partly processed 16mm films,' July 1974. (AA 346/9/27/6)

  • Two original Kodachrome Boxes with NB Tindale's annotations. (AA 346/9/27/15)

CreatorBoard for Anthropological Research
ControlAA 346/9/25
Date Range05 February, 1966  -  25 February, 1966
Quantity 16cm,   7   film items. Formats: 16mm, Betacams, DVDs
Series AA346/09