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Jewel of the Pacific (1932)

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‘The seed gatherer’s lot’ education content clip 2

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

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

by Poppy De Souza

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.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

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  • You may download materials for your personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes, but you must not publish them elsewhere or redistribute clips in any way.
  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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