The Maitland 16mm Films
c.1926-1956
This following digitised film reels are a cache of thirteen (13) 16mm film reels that were rescued from disposal by Peter Smith and donated to the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections (Auchmuty Library) in Australia in September 2014. All but one (labelled “Maitland Show 1930s” due to poor condition) were successfully digitised in November 2014.
W. S. Pender (Pender Brothers Ltd) Beekeeping Film (c.1926)
16mm Black and White Film (Silent)
Original 16mm black and white motion picture reel, in all probability produced by William Samuel Pender of Pender Brothers Ltd (Maitland N.S.W.) displaying beekeepers and beekeeping practices across New South Wales.
Digitisation Notes: B&W Original Reversal. Pillarboxing reduced to accommodate wide image area ; transferred at 16fps.
The film records apiaries and processes employed in the manufacture of honey and the maintenance and use of hives and related equipment.
According to Powerhouse Museum, the Pender Brothers Ltd began manufacturing beekeeping equipment in 1892 and led the field for the next eighty years. In 1899 they started publishing The Australasian Beekeeper journal, also known as ABK, that continues today.
[Pender Brothers Limited, Maitland NSW] [Beekeeping Film] 16mm Black and White Film c.1926
09:39 0:03 – 01:46 Hawkesbury Agricultural College Apiaries male and female official visitors (?) examining apiaries, with scenes of stock yards.
01:47 – 02:56 Apiaries of Mr. Henry Edison, at Emmaville, NSW, Australia
02:57 – 03:20 The Yellow Dam Apiary
03:21 – 03:45 The Kangaroo Flat Apiary (Bendigo?)
03:46 – 07:55 Removing the honey for extracting
07:56 – 08:54 Cappings are removed with a steam heated knife and the wax and honey separated in a Beuhne Reducer
08:55 – 09:14 Honey is pumped through tube to honey tanks
09:15 – 09:35 Tinning honey for removal to storage and bottling plant, where it is refined.
[Pender family, Maitland N.S.W?] – Home Movie – c.1932
16mm Black and White Film (Silent)
[Pender family?] – Home Movie – circa 1932 Original 16mm black and white motion picture reel, [Pender Family?] home movie (Maitland N.S.W.) displaying the family on the river, at home, playing in the backyard with dogs.
[Pender Family, Maitland NSW?] [Home Movie] 16mm Black and White Film c.1932
Digitisation Notes: B&W Original Reversal. Pillarboxing reduced to accommodate wide image area ; very poor light/contrast in some scenes – ex-camera; transferred at 16fps.
00:00–00:29 People kayaking or canoeing on unidentified river
00:30–00:58 Group of people on motorised boat on unidentified river
00:59–01:30 People kayaking or canoeing on unidentified river
01:30–02:23 Young girl playing with black dog in backyard, then older leader patting dog.
02:23–03:37 Family playing croquet in backyard
03:37–03:56 Girl skipping with rope
03:56–04:50 People frolicking in river, near boat and wooden jetty and kayaking or canoeing on river.
04:50–06:22 Child on swing, woman playing with two dogs, then children playing with another dog.
06:22–06:41 Women with period hats seated in backyard
06:41–06:59 Man and child playing on verandah
06:59–07:13 Two children playing in backyard
07:13–07:26 Man playing with dog
07:26–07:48 Woman picking flowers from garden
07:48–07:56 Woman in a row boat
07:56–09:08 Children playing on river with inflatables, family group
09:08–10:18 Older man smoking a pipe playing with dog, then younger man washing dog.
Victory Day Parade. Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.
Monday, 10th June 1946. 16mm Colour Film (Silent)
Victory Day Parade. Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Monday, 10th June 1946. (Silent)
Digitisation Notes: Colour Original Reversal. Contains other segments prior to parade footage; generally good condition; transferred at 16fps.
00:00 – 01:40 Flowers in backyard
01:40 – 02:03 Lilting steamer off unidentified coastline
02:04 – 02:43 Flowers, Jacaranda trees?
02:57 – 03:03 Night Scene With Lights
03:03 – 03:26 Flowers in backyard
03:27 – 07:23 Victory Day Parade through Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. Monday, 10th June 1946.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1949.
16mm Black and White Film (Silent). (Brittle Film)
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1949. B/W 16mm Silent Film. (Brittle Film). Black and White 16mm Silent Film footage shot of Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1949.
Digitisation Notes: B&W Reversal. Severe shrinkage: frame roll during transfer ; open transfer (no pillarbox) due to erratic frame movement, caused by shrinkage/inconsistency of perforations on laser detector ; transferred at 16fps.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1949.
16mm Colour Film (Silent)
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1949. Colour 16mm Film (Silent). 16mm film shot of 1949 Maitland Flood.
Digitisation Notes: Colour Original Reversal. Severe colour fade / colour imbalance throughout: discolouration distributed throughout film.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Film of Floods, Fireworks, Hawkesbury River, Oyster, Maitland Parade, circa 1951. 16mm Colour Film (Silent)
Maitland (N.S.W.) Film of Floods, Fireworks, Hawkesbury River, Oyster, Maitland Parade, circa 1951.
Digitisation Notes: Colour Original Reversal. Moderate-severe colour fade – some sections extremely faded ; transferred at 16fps.
00:00 – 00:14 Maitland Floods 1949?
00:38 – 04:37 Cruiser along Hunter River?, speedboats, houseboats, then Hawkesbury River, Oyster fishermen at work, Bridge, Steam Train, View of Sydney Harbour, Taronga Park Zoo.
04:38 – 05:05 Public event, aeronautical with large crowds, biplanes.
05:05 – 05:53 Maitland Parade, 1951.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Home Movie recording floods, aerobatics event, graduation (?), baptism of child. Maitland District circa 1950s.
Home Movie filmed in Maitland (N.S.W.) District circa 1950s.
Home Movie filmed in Maitland (N.S.W.) District circa 1950s showing scenes of Maitland Floods, helicopter trainings, military aircraft, biplane aeronautical displays, family baptism at Church.
00:00 – 01:09 Helicopter practicing land and winching techniques
01:10 – 01:21 Man in academic robes walking outside home
01:21 – 01:48 Biplane aerobatics, crowds watching from ground
01:48 – 02:04 Excavator at work, damaged house.
02:04 – 02:39 Armidale-Inverell Bus, with passengers. Visiting University of New England? Stainglass window.
02:39 – 03:27 Object parachuting from sky, military aircraft flying in formation. Landing with crowds.
03:27 – 03:51 Running Waters, demolished ruins of house.
03:52 – 06:45 Flood waters, aftermath of flood, army duck or amphibious vehicles transporting people, flood aftermath, swollen rivers.
06:46 – 07:32 Family members outside Church for baptism of child?
07:32 – 07:52 People assembled on jetty with four small boats
Maitland (N.S.W) Home Movies including Ron & Margo’s Wedding, events, Steve the Cat with Magpie, the Queen’s 1954 Visit & Flood, 1955. 16mm Colour Film (Silent)
Maitland (N.S.W) Home Movies – Ron & Margo’s Wedding, events, the Queen 1954 Visit & Flood, 1955. 16mm Colour Film (Silent)
Digitisation Notes: Colour Original Reversal. Colour and general condition quite good throughout ; transferred at 16fps.
00:00 – 01:01 Ron and Margo’s Wedding
01:01 – 01:26 Opening Milk Bottling Plant, Morpeth
01:27 – 01:50 Steve the Cat with Magpie and Mrs Morgan
01:51 – 02:21 Rotary Clive Scobies
02:22 – 02:45 Elizabeth Beach from Flotella
02:45 – 02:54 Crown Light Display over Maitland Hospital
02:55 – 03:12 Melbourne Coronation Lights Melbourne [Tul]
04:09 – 06:11 Queen Elizabeth II Visit to Newcastle, 1954.
06:12 – 08:12 Sydney Royal Visit Illumination
08:13 – 10:16 Fireworks Display Newcastle
10:37 – 11:12 [Marriage of] Douglas and Iva
11:12 – 12:46 Maitland Flood, 1955
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1955. (Films 1 and 2)
Colour 16mm Silent Film.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1955. (Film 1)
Colour 16mm Silent Film.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1955. Colour 16mm Silent Film.
Digitisation Notes: Colour Original Reversal. Moderate colour fade ; transferred at 25fps.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1955. (Film 2)
Colour 16mm Silent Film.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Flood, 1955. (Film 2). Colour 16mm Silent Film.
Digitisation Notes: Colour Original Reversal. Moderate colour fade ; transferred at 25fps.
Maitland (N.S.W.) Films of Maitland Family at Maitland Parade, 1956.
16mm Colour (Silent)
16mm Silent Movie Films of Maitland Family with Footage of Maitland Parade, 1956.
00:00 – 00:46 Couple throwing streamers from a departing passenger ship, crowd scenes, and ship eventually leaving Sydney Harbour.
00:47 – 01:17 Three men in suits and ties, on verandah. Family scenes of two infants learning to walk.
01:17 – 04:36 Crowd of tourists on unidentified beach, being loaded onto vessels for sightseeing coral and marine life near shore. Followed by scenes of shore at low tide, and beach at dusk.
04:36 – 09:34 Lilting vessel in foreground of beach scene, with return of passengers on amphibious vessel make way from water to beach and land. More scenes of coral, fish, crabs, star fish, coastal scenes, seagulls, shipwrecks, unidentified family, turtles, aquarium fish, industrial port on coast, coal, street scenes and vistas of unidentified town, vistas of major Port city, suburban scenes, man with loaded bike, or bicycle,
09:35 – 10:17 Maitland Parade, 1956. Passing by Woolworths, Highland Band, timber floats, Bloomfield Coal, brass band, variety of floats.
10:25 – 12:20 Family picnic scenes on coast, bush, overlooking valley vistas, scene of massive levee or dam or road structure?
12:21 – 15:56 Maitland Parade, 1956 filmed from two locations.
15:56 – 16:14 1956 Olympic Torch Run through crowd lined street.
16:14 – 16:28 Puppy dog with lady out the front of home.
Acknowledgments
All films were donated to the University of Newcastle’s Archives (Cultural Collections) on 21 September 2014, by Greg and Sylvia Ray.
These were collected as part of a cache of thirteen 16mm films relating to Maitland (N.S.W.) and major events such as the 1949 and 1955 Maitland Floods, Victory Day Parades (1946, 1951? and 1956?) and Queen’s Visit in 1954 from a deceased estate by Mr Peter (Pete) Smith. The creator of the films is unidentified. Possibly Pender family in origin.
Digitised by DAMsmart for the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections in the Auchmuty Library, 2014.
For more information on Historic Film Digitisation:
https://hunterlivinghistories.com/category/hvfsa/
Compiled by Gionni Di Gravio, OAM
University Archivist & Chair, Hunter Living Histories
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