Inland with Sturt
Encyclopedia
Inland with Sturt is a 1951 short from Film Australia
about the 1950-51 re-enactment of Captain Charles Sturt
's 1829-30 expedition down the Murrumbidgee
and Murray
Rivers. The re-enactment was part of Australia's 1951 Commonwealth Jubilee Celebrations, commemorating 50 years of Federation.
The parts of Charles Sturt
and George MacLeay
were performed by two professional actors, Grant Taylor
and Rod Taylor. Several officers from Duntroon
played the men who travelled with them.
The expedition took several weeks, travelling from Sydney
to Adelaide
. The crew travelled by road to the town of Maude
, then entered the Murrumbidgee River in a whaleboat and went by water to Goolwa, after which they drove to Adelaide
. All the time they wore 1830 period costume.
An extensive support crew accompanied the whaleboat from land, including Talbot Duckmanton
and a team from ABC radio who would present a nightly report. The trip was also covered extensively by local media and seen by an estimated 300,000 people along the way.
Inland with Sturt marked the first film appearance for Rod Taylor. Taylor was related to Charles Sturt
through his father, but was only cast after the original choice for his role, Charles Tingwell
, pulled out to act in Kangaroo
(1952).
Film Australia
Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia. Its mission was to create an audio-visual record of Australian culture, through the commissioning, distribution and management of programs that deal with matters of national interest or...
about the 1950-51 re-enactment of Captain Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt
Captain Charles Napier Sturt was an English explorer of Australia, and part of the European Exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers,...
's 1829-30 expedition down the Murrumbidgee
Murrumbidgee River
The Murrumbidgee River is a major river in the state of New South Wales, Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory . A major tributary of the Murray River, the Murrumbidgee flows in a west-northwesterly direction from the foot of Peppercorn Hill in the Fiery Range of the Snowy Mountains,...
and Murray
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
Rivers. The re-enactment was part of Australia's 1951 Commonwealth Jubilee Celebrations, commemorating 50 years of Federation.
The parts of Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt
Captain Charles Napier Sturt was an English explorer of Australia, and part of the European Exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers,...
and George MacLeay
George Macleay
Sir George Macleay KCMG, was an Australian explorer and politician.Macleay was born in London, the third son of Alexander Macleay and educated at Westminster School. He came to Australia in 1826....
were performed by two professional actors, Grant Taylor
Grant taylor
Grant Taylor is a professional skateboarder who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of former professional skateboarder Thomas Taylor. He began skating at an early age and turned pro in 2009...
and Rod Taylor. Several officers from Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
played the men who travelled with them.
The expedition took several weeks, travelling from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. The crew travelled by road to the town of Maude
Maude, New South Wales
Maude is a village on the north bank of the Murrumbidgee River in New South Wales, Australia. It is in between Hay and Balranald in Hay Shire. It is located 55 kilometres downstream from Hay and 25 kilometres upstream from the junction of the Lachlan River with the Murrumbidgee. At the 2006...
, then entered the Murrumbidgee River in a whaleboat and went by water to Goolwa, after which they drove to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. All the time they wore 1830 period costume.
An extensive support crew accompanied the whaleboat from land, including Talbot Duckmanton
Talbot Duckmanton
Sir Talbot Sidney Duckmanton CBE was an Australian broadcaster and radio and television administrator. As General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission he oversaw the advent of colour television, ABC Classic FM and Triple J.-Early life:The son of Sidney James Duckmanton and Rita...
and a team from ABC radio who would present a nightly report. The trip was also covered extensively by local media and seen by an estimated 300,000 people along the way.
Inland with Sturt marked the first film appearance for Rod Taylor. Taylor was related to Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt
Captain Charles Napier Sturt was an English explorer of Australia, and part of the European Exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers,...
through his father, but was only cast after the original choice for his role, Charles Tingwell
Charles Tingwell
In 1941, aged 18, he volunteered for war service overseas with the Royal Australian Air Force. Under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, personnel from Commonwealth air forces were part of a joint training and assignment system. Consequently, Tingwell trained as a pilot in Canada during 1942...
, pulled out to act in Kangaroo
Kangaroo (1952 film)
Kangaroo is a 1952 American film directed by Lewis Milestone.The film is also known as The Australian Story .- Plot summary :...
(1952).
Cast
- Grant TaylorGrant taylorGrant Taylor is a professional skateboarder who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the son of former professional skateboarder Thomas Taylor. He began skating at an early age and turned pro in 2009...
as Captain Charles SturtCharles SturtCaptain Charles Napier Sturt was an English explorer of Australia, and part of the European Exploration of Australia. He led several expeditions into the interior of the continent, starting from both Sydney and later from Adelaide. His expeditions traced several of the westward-flowing rivers,... - Rod Taylor as George MacLeayGeorge MacleaySir George Macleay KCMG, was an Australian explorer and politician.Macleay was born in London, the third son of Alexander Macleay and educated at Westminster School. He came to Australia in 1826....
- Pat Trost
- Ian Gilmore
- Roy Pugh
- Captain Jim Laughlin
- Ron Wells
- Brien Forward
External links
- Inland with Sturt Part 1 and Inland with Sturt Pt 2 at The Duntroon Society Newsletter November 2000 and April 2001.
- Inland with Sturt at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...
- Inland with Sturt at The Rod Taylor Site