[Gadsden Family Home Movie Collection: Reel 168]

The Gadsden Company has a long and proud history of manufacture, dating back to its foundation by Jabez Gadsden in 1879. The company pioneered tinplate printing in Australia, and produced the first printed can the country had seen. By 1936 the company had twelve factories spread throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The company’s success allowed two generations of Gadsden family men – Stanley Gadsden and his son Ronald – to pursue their interest in amateur filmmaking (a relatively expensive hobby for the time). The two cameramen captured the family’s children, homes, many of its major events and holidays on film.

A collection of the films made by these Gadsden family photographers has been donated to ACMI by Chris Gadsden (Ronald’s son). The films comprise a fascinating assortment of imagery that provides a window into bygone days and customs.

This film shows downhill, cross-country and slalom skiing at Mt Buller, Victoria, including the Women’s National Ski Competition in August 1947 and 1948 (according to notes on the donated original film can). There are good views including a horse drawn sled, snow fashion of the era and a ski lodge.

This film was originally made using 16mm film. Some of the footage is overexposed.

Selected highlights list
00:00:02:00 downhill ski race, various competitors filmed from a fixed camera position
00:02:40:00 views of snowed covered mountains
00:02:50:00 skiers in distance going downhill, possible slalom
00:03:46:00 better footage of downhill slalom
00:04:36:00 skiers walking uphill wearing skis, views of mountain and ski lodge
00:04:49:00 skiers walking uphill wearing skis
00:04:58:00 good footage of horse drawn sled
00:05:06:00 skiers walking wearing skis
00:06:50:00 group cross country skiing with sled
00:06:58:00 man strapped to sled (possibly injured or practising)
00:07:08:00 man gets off sled at ski lodge amid group of skiers
00:07:17:00 close up views of skiers at lodge showing fashions of the era
00:07:35:00 people riding horse drawn sled
00:07:44:00 downhill skiing
00:08:32:00 dining room in ski lodge full of diners (waitress in uniform)
00:09:03:00 mountain views
00:09:40:00 horse riding
00:10:38:00 man standing by car loaded with skis