Harvard-Adelaide Expedition: 'Extra' 1938-1939.

BAR Expedition Symbol: N

This is the fifth of twelve film titles documenting the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) Harvard-Adelaide Universities expedition, during 13 May 1938 - 30 June 1939.

This expedition travelled through South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. For a listing of the locations visited by the expedition party see: JB Birdsell's 'Australian Daily Field Journal 1938-1939' (AA 689/1/1) and NB Tindale's Journal 'Harvard and Adelaide Universities Anthropological Expedition, Australia, 1938-1939' (AA 338/1/15/1-2).

'Extra' is an unfinished film documenting the BAR expedition's journey through Laverton and Madura Pass (Western Australia), Echuca (Victoria), Gogango Range, Lake Barrine and Palm Island (Queensland), Talawanta and Boggabilla (New South Wales), Point Pearce Mission (South Australia) and Cape Barren Island (Tasmania).

The cinematographer was NB Tindale (AA 338) with possible involvement from both DM Tindale and BG Birdsell. See: (AA 346/9/13/1)

NB Tindale's annotations on the edge of the 16mm film, which usually records the subject, location and the dates of filming have been used to identify the many different locations found in this film.

This expedition film was previous held in the NB Tindale collection and was transferred into the BAR collection in December 2005.

The South Australian Museum Archives Master Preservation Tape (AA 346/9/13/5/3) consists of (AA 346/9/13/5/1). Duration 06 minutes 13 seconds.

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, SP Betacam, Digital Betacam, Access DVDs.

Summary (Time Coded): Taken from Access DVD 3 (AA 346/9/13/5/7)

00:00 Harvard Adelaide Expedition: 'Extra,' 1938-1939.

00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'

00:00 'The Museum Board of South Australia © 1938-1939.'

01:30 Journey of the Harvard Adelaide Universities' Expedition, 1938-39.' Title overlaid on a photograph taken of the expedition party making anthropological party working a group of 1 mile east of Laverton, Western Australia. 23 May 1939. See: NB Tindale photographs (AA 338/5/15/137)

01:45 The Birdsell's car drives along a road. Central Queensland, 1938.

02:00 View of the dirt track, filmed from the car.

02:09 An expedition car. North of Babinda, Queensland, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6). Reel 13bb.

02:23 An expedition car crossing a creek. North Queensland, 1938.

02:28 Expedition car negotiating Madura Pass, Western Australia, 1938.

02:47 Rainforest, shot from a moving car. Eastern Victoria, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6). Reel 22d.

03:08 Rounding up sheep. Talawanta, New South Wales, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 4c.

03:37 Water boring operation. Talawanta, New South Wales, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 4d.

04:37 Hand cranked river punt. River Murray, Echuca, Victoria, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6). Reel 3a.

05:06 Driving through Gogango Range, Central Queensland, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 8e.

05:13 Prickly pears. Gogango Range, Central Queensland, 1938. See: NB Tindale Journal (AA 338/1/15/1-2), pp.295, 297. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 8d.

05:23 Rainforest. Queensland. 1938.

05:38 House on the edge of Lake Barrine, Queensland, 1938.

05:46 JB Birdsell smoking. Talawanta, New South Wales, 1938.

05:55 JB Birdsell walking with a butterfly net. North Queensland, 1938.

05:57 The expedition party going for a swim. Palm Island, Queensland, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 30b.

06:07 DM Tindale and BG Birdsell on horseback. Palm Island. Queensland, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 30d.

06:06 An Australian Aboriginal girl breaking a coconut against the trunk of the coconut tree. Queensland. 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 18.

06:19 DM Tindale writing up notes. Boggabilla, New South Wales, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 5e.

06:27 Obtaining honey from a tree trunk. Boggabilla, New South Wales, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 7c

06:58 DM Tindale tasting honey. Boggabilla, New South Wales, 1938.

07:03 BG Birdsell paddling canoe. MacIntyre River. Boggabilla, New South Wales, 1938. See: NB Tindale's film notes (AA 346/9/27/6), Reel 6b.

07:18 Mixed doubles tennis match with the BG and JB Birdsell, DM Tindale and an unidentified man. Point Pearce Mission, South Australia, 1939.

07:34 JB Birdsell and a Police Constable playing poker. Cape Barren Island, Tasmania. 1939. Shot at a slow film speed.

07:42 End of footage.


  1. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939, MASTER NEGATIVE
    Characteristics: 16mm, B&W, silent, 250ft.
    Notes: This item was previously held in the NB Tindale (AA 338) collection as [Negative 2A]

  2. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939, DUPLICATE POSITIVE
    Characteristics: 16mm, B&W, silent, 250ft.
    Notes: This item was previously held in the NB Tindale (AA 338) collection as [Positive 2A]

  3. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939. MASTER PRESERVATION COPY
    Format: SP Betacam
    Duration: 06 min 13 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/13/5/1

  4. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939. DUBBING / LOAN COPY
    Format: Digital Betacam
    Duration: 06 min 13 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/13/5/3

  5. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939. PRESERVATION DVD 1 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 06 min 13 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/13/5/4

  6. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939. PRESERVATION DVD 2
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 06 min 13 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/13/5/4

  7. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939. ACCESS DVD 3 [TIME CODED]
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 06 min 13 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/13/5/5

  8. HARVARD-ADELAIDE: 'EXTRA,' 1938-1939. ACCESS DVD 4
    Format: DVD
    Duration: 06 min 13 sec
    Transfer Date: 1/07/2006
    Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/13/5/6

  • NB Tindale Journal 'Harvard and Adelaide Universities Anthropological Expedition, Australia, 1938-1939.' (AA 338/1/15/1-2)

  • NB Tindale's notes for the editing of the Harvard Adelaide films (AA 346/9/27/6).

  • NB Tindale Photographs (AA 338/1/15/1-2)

  • NB Tindale 'Notes on Partly Processed 16mm film, examined by NB Tindale, July 1974, (AA 346/9/27/8)

  • NB Tindale notes for the editing of Harvard Adelaide film (AA 346/9/27/6)

  • NB Tindale annotations on the edge of the 16mm film regarding subjects, dates and locations.

CreatorBoard for Anthropological Research
ControlAA 346/9/13/5
Date Range01 May, 1938  -  01 June, 1939
Quantity 19cm,   8   film items. Formats: 16mm, Betacams, DVDs
Series AA346/09