FILM AUSTRALIA COLLECTION

Title Details

Pearls in the North

A look at Australia's pearling industry, including diving for pearl shell off the northwest coast.
Year : 1972 | Total Duration : 12.5 Minutes | Producer : Don Murray
Director : Oliver Howes |
Sunrise, pearl lugger. Japanese and Malaysian sailors and divers. Man in full diving suit being pulled aboard. Anchor dropped over side of boat. Diver's helmet fixed into place and he is dropped over side. Air tubes uncoiled from boat. Diver in diving suit and helmet. Tropical fish, coral bed and shark. Crew working rope for diver. Other crew members cleaning oysters. Oyster shells on deck. Man in motor boat arrives and collects shells for pearl culture and returns to larger boat. Torres Strait Islanders form crew. Ship to sea and into land. Lugger at Coorie Bay. Oyster beds for pearl culture. Oysters unloaded by Torres Strait Islander workers. Oyster shell being opened and tissue grafted in process of pearl culture. Japanese man placing bead inside shell to form pearl. Pearl being extracted from shell. Pearling luggers returning to Broome. Boats moored in creek, Sailors including Japanese and Malaysians. Large sacks of oyster shells unloaded. Trucks pushed along railway by hand. Quicktime clip available.
Access No. 104571 | 12 mins 39 secs | 1970s | WA, Australia | © NFSA | Colour |