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On Lord Howe Island, workers collect the seeds of the native kentia palm for export to Sydney. In this clip, one member of the group climbs the trunk of a tree to gather bunches of seeds from its branches. At the foot of the palm, the seeds are removed from their stalks, put into small stacks and carried on the backs of the men down the mountain. On the way back, one of the men slips over the mountain ledge but is rescued by another member of the party. They continue their trek back to the settlement.
Curator’s notes
The engaging narration of photographer and filmmaker Frank Hurley enhances the sense of adventure involved in the seed gathering expedition. The scene where one of the party slips off the mountain ledge is emphasised as an ‘unrehearsed incident’ and shows the risks involved in venturing into the subtropical mountainous terrain. The on–the-spot narration adds immediacy, while Hurley’s own firsthand experience as the cameraman on the tour adds authenticity to the event.
Exporting kentia palm seeds was one of Lord Howe Island’s main sources of income in the 1930s when this film was made. The harvested seeds were packed in loose soil, cased and then shipped to Sydney for market.
