Aboriginal stockmen at Wave Hill cattle station

Extract from Camping, Cattle Mustering in Outback: Wave Hill Station (1936). Cinesound Movietone Australian Newsreel Collection, 137209, National Film and Sound Archive. This video has no sound

Aerial shots of the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory, on the traditional lands of the Gurindji people. Segment includes scenes of cattle mustering by Aboriginal stockmen.

On 23 August 1966 200 Gurindji stockmen, domestic workers and their families walked off Wave Hill Station in the Northern Territory and refused to keep working for the station owners. The disagreement over wages and land ownership lasted for seven years. In 1974 some of the Gurindji people’s homelands were returned to them. This influenced the first legislation, passed in 1976, that allowed Aboriginal people to claim land title.

Activities

1. What does this short film clip show? Summarise what you see.

2. Does the film appear to have a main purpose or message? If so, what do you think it is?

3. Who made the film clip and when was it made? Use this information to try to work out why the film was made. Does this change what you think about the purpose of the film?