This film documents the Board for Anthropological Research (BAR) expedition to Ooldea, South Australia during 15-26 August 1939. The expedition party included numerous BAR members, see the 'BAR Guide' through the Archives Access Officer for a list of personnel and their roles. The BAR party was met by Mr and Mrs Harry Green (AA 113) of the United Aborigines Mission (AA 624), Ooldea, South Australia.

The film was shot by EC Black (AA 31) and consisted of 3 x 100 feet reels of 16mm film which was not compiled into a 'final film production.' The South Australian Museum Master Preservation Tape (AA 346/9/14/1) consists of (AA 346/9/14/1) duration 7 minutes 59 seconds. There are no intertitles.

In addition EC Black shot a quantity of 9.5mm nitrate film. Access DVDs (AA 346/9/14/8 - AA 346/9/14/9) are edits of the footage relating to the BAR expedition to Ooldea, SA, from the EC Black Compilation (AA 31/10).

Please 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 346/9/14/6)

00:00 'Film Notes from Ooldea, [SA], 1939.'

00:00 'Cultural Sensitivity Warning.'

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

01:30 An Australian Aboriginal man demonstrates the throwing of a spear with spear thrower.

01:32 BAR Expedition members stand beside railway tracks next to a stationary train.

01:41 JB Cleland examines flowers and botanical specimens.

02:02 FJ Fenner (AA 91), A Harvey (AA 127), EC Black and JB Cleland (AA 60) search for and sort microlith implements.

03:36 FJ Fenner and JB Cleland demonstrate how much water is contained within Mallee tree roots by blowing through a section of root.

04:18 A Mallee tree root is removed from the sand by three Australian Aboriginal men. The water from the root is blown into a cup held by an expedition member.

04:59 Restricted Content Starts.

09:28 Restricted Content Ends.

09:28 End of 'Film Notes from Ooldea, [SA], 1939.'

Tribal / language groups recorded during this expedition as recorded in the Data Cards (AA 346/4/21)
Tindale Tribes: Wirangu.
AIATSIS Tribal / Language Groups: Wirangu.

1. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. MASTER POSITIVE PRINT
   Characteristics: 16mm, B&W, silent, 300ft.
   Notes: Original boxes contain annotations. See: (AA 346/9/27/15)
   'Reel 1: 'Moonta. etc' Acc. No. 1032. Dr Black. 3378.'
   'Reel 2: 'Water from roots' 'Making headdress.' Acc. No.1030. Dr Black. A3125.'
   'Reel 3: 'Decoration & Dance.' Acc. No.1031. Dr Black. A3125.'
   
   
2. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. MASTER PRESERVATION COPY
   Format: SP Betacam
   Duration: 7 min. 59 sec.
   Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
   Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/14/1
   
   
3. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. DUBBING / LOAN COPY
   Format: Digital Betacam
   Duration: 7 min. 59 sec.
   Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
   Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/14/2
   
   
4. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. PRESERVATION DVD 1 [TIME CODED]
   Format: DVD
   Duration: 7 min. 59 sec.
   Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
   Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/14/3
   
   
5. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. PRESERVATION DVD 2
   Format: DVD
   Duration: 7 min. 59 sec.
   Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
   Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/14/3
   
   
6. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. ACCESS DVD 3 [TIME CODED]
   Format: DVD
   Duration: 7 min. 59 sec.
   Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
   Generation: AA 346/9/14/4
   
   
7. OOLDEA, SA, 1939. ACCESS DVD 4
   Format: DVD
   Duration: 7 min. 59 sec.
   Transfer Date: 01/07/2006
   Generation: Copy of AA 346/9/14/5
   
   

• Berndt, RM & Berndt, CH, 1942-45, 'A preliminary report of field work in the Ooldea region, western South Australia,' Oceania, 12;13;14;15, pp. 305-30; 51-70, 143-69, 243-80, 362-75; 30-66, 124-58, 220-49, 338-58; 49-80, 154-65, 239-75.
  
  
• Typewritten film summary (1p) with annotated in NB Tindale's hand. (AA 346/9/27/6) This summary was part of the T Harvey Johnston collection (AA 161) before being moved to the BAR collection in December 2005.
  
  
• Harvey Johnston, T and Cleland, JB 'Native Life at Ooldea, Finding Water In The Desert' Chronicle Adelaide 7 September 1939. See: SAMA Newspaper Book 5.
  
  
• EC Black photographs of the expedition to Ooldea, South Australia, 1939. (AA 31/10/11)
  
  
• Correspondence from RM Berndt to EC Black 7 Sept 1950 (AA 31) regarding the ceremonial film and Berndt's discussion of this in his Oceania articles.