Frank Hurley

A century after Shackleton's Endurance sank beneath the ice, explorers uncover the legendary shipwreck and an amazing tale of survival.

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Presented by explorer Frank Hurley in his final film appearance, this documentary chronicles Australia's role in the scientific exploration of Antarctica and the hardships the pioneers endured. Using archival footage, this film spans from 1911, following Sir Douglas Mawson's first expedition, to Phillip Law establishing the continent's first permanent research station in 1954.

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Filmed over six years, this documentary records the daily life, cultural traditions, wartime impacts, landscape and reconstruction across the Middle East and North Africa during WWII. Some locations include: Cairo markets, the Nile, the pyramids, Khartoum in the Sudan, and the liberation of Cyrenaica.

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This short travel documentary showcases the natural landscapes, water systems, and historic sites of Tasmania. Produced on behalf of the Australian National Travel Association, it serves to promote regional tourism by illustrating the area's scenic and industrial appeal.

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Commissioned to promote 1930s tourism, this charming travelogue follows young lovers Jack and Jill on a scenic treasure hunt across the Blue Mountains. Seeking a hidden £500 cheque, their quest takes them past iconic landmarks like the Three Sisters and down the historic Scenic Railway.

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Directed and filmed by Frank Hurley for Cinesound, this short industrial documentary captures the realities of 1930s mining in Broken Hill. This film opens with dramatised historical re-enactments of Captain Charles Sturt’s 1844 expedition and Charles Rasp’s 1883 silver lode discovery. Utilising extensive cable networks and specialised camera filters to overcome extreme dark and heat, Hurley takes his camera 2,000 ft below the surface. The footage captures miners drilling rock, pit ponies hauling ore cars, and an explosive rock blasting arrangement. Above ground, it documents men operating heavy machinery to extract zinc, lead, and silver deposits, and the refining of the raw minerals.

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A short documentary showing the construction and opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Narrated by Frank Hurley, it also features aerial views and scenic locations around Sydney. This film is believed to be lost.

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An Australian travelogue documenting the landscapes, rodent-control efforts, local community and workers on Lord Howe Island.

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Siege of the South is a 1931 Australian documentary film by Frank Hurley. It featured Douglas Mawson. It was based on footage taken on the BANZ Expedition to Antarctica in 1930–31. The film debuted in Brisbane in 1931.

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Frank Hurley (1885-1962) was firmly established by 1925 as Australia's most famous photographer. After World War 1, having filled the position as the first official photographer of the Australian war effort, Hurley became interested in Papua New Guinea. In December 1920, he left Australia to record the work of Anglican missions in Papua and to make "travelogue entertainment". The result was this documentary, "Pearls and Savages" which was released in Sydney, in December 1921. Following its initial success, the film was modularly expanded for subsequent theatrical re-releases including the 1923 edition, 'With the Headhunters of Unknown Papua' incorporating new expedition footage that features Hurley and ichthyologist Allan McCulloch on screen.

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A detailed historical account of the major campaigns fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. Compiled from the archives of the Australian War Memorial, this film utilizes rare battlefield footage from the Middle East and Europe to trace the journey of the ANZAC troops from their initial departure to the frontline conflicts in Egypt, the Somme, and Cambrai.

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Commissioned by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, this four part educational miniseries documents the engineering, mining operations and electrical distribution in Latrobe Valley. This series incorporates footage from Frank Hurley's 1936 standalone film, alongside new, expanded material to follow the formation and mining of brown coal, power generation, factory processing, electrical distribution networks within Victoria and Melbourne, and the manufacturing of briquettes.

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Filmed over six years, this documentary records the daily life, cultural traditions, wartime impacts, landscape and reconstruction across the Middle East and North Africa during WWII. Some locations include: Cairo markets, the Nile, the pyramids, Khartoum in the Sudan, and the liberation of Cyrenaica.

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At a picnic to celebrate Australia's 150th 'birthday', a family discusses significant events that shaped the nation. From re-enacting the arrival of the First Fleet and the birth of John Macarthur's wool-producing enterprise, the film then turns to the present, focusing on rural production, industrial efficiency and the splendid urban landscape of Sydney. As the introductory title grandly proclaims: "From so small a beginning has sprung the virile Australian Nation." Frank Hurley, at the peak of his fame as a photographer, film maker and adventurer, was the obvious choice to direct the film and he delivered spectacular imagery and patriotic commentary with gusto.

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This promotional travelogue showcases the Great Barrier Reef as an ideal holiday destination, taking viewers on a tour of its scenic islands. The film highlights the natural environment and wildlife, featuring newly hatched chicks nesting in the bush, newborn turtles making their trek from the sand to the sea, traditional spear fishing, and underwater scenes capturing the diverse marine life.

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An industrial short film documenting metallurgical smelting and refining processes at the Port Pirie works in South Australia. Serving as the immediate companion film to 1936's "Silver City" it follows the arrival of raw silver-lead concentrates by rail before moving through automated roasting plants and active blast furnaces. The documentary finishes behind the locked doors of the high-security silver and gold rooms, showcasing the final creation of pure bullion bars.

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A young forestry graduate, Jim Thornton, is involved in a race between timber companies to fill a major contract. Jim has joined the crew of a genial timber baron, Burbridge, and foils attempts by a rival, Blake, to sabotage their work. J. Alan Kenyon's special effects are the highlights of the film with comic relief provided by Joe Valli as a Scottish timber-train driver amorously pursued by a shrill-voiced maid of the Burbridge's country house.

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Commissioned to promote 1930s tourism, this charming travelogue follows young lovers Jack and Jill on a scenic treasure hunt across the Blue Mountains. Seeking a hidden £500 cheque, their quest takes them past iconic landmarks like the Three Sisters and down the historic Scenic Railway.

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Directed and filmed by Frank Hurley for Cinesound, this short industrial documentary captures the realities of 1930s mining in Broken Hill. This film opens with dramatised historical re-enactments of Captain Charles Sturt’s 1844 expedition and Charles Rasp’s 1883 silver lode discovery. Utilising extensive cable networks and specialised camera filters to overcome extreme dark and heat, Hurley takes his camera 2,000 ft below the surface. The footage captures miners drilling rock, pit ponies hauling ore cars, and an explosive rock blasting arrangement. Above ground, it documents men operating heavy machinery to extract zinc, lead, and silver deposits, and the refining of the raw minerals.

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In a small coastal town, young clergyman Cyril Maitland is involved in a tragedy that could ruin his rising career. After secretly impregnating his lover, Alma Lee, a violent struggle ensues with her enraged father, leaving the older man dead. Maitland denies responsibility and allows his close friend, Dr. Henry Everard, to be found guilty on false evidence and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Two decades later, as Maitland rises to prominence in the church, a bitter Everard is finally released, forcing the church leader to confront his decades of silence and guilt as his old friend seeks ultimate revenge.

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A story of rival sheep stations and of the strong-willed squatter’s daughter who wants to unite them.

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To claim his inheritance, John Strong travels to Thursday Island with an ultimatum to locate a valuable pearl within two years. If he fails, his late uncle's pearling station will be forfeited to a rival pearler, "Black" Darley.

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Englishman Martin South (Eric Bransby Williams) is leading an expedition into the Dutch New Guinea hinterland to search for gold, being joined by George Mardyke (Jameson Thomas), who he thinks is his friend. The expedition is attacked by headhunters and Mardyke leaves Martin for dead so he can pursue the latter's fiancee, Eleanor (Lillian Douglas), the daughter of a plantation manager. Meanwhile, Martin is nursed back to health by native girl, Hurana (Grace Savieri), who falls in love with him and helps him escape from some angry natives. Hurana is bitten by a snake and dies, and Martin arrives back to civilisation in time to rescue Eleanor from Mardyke. Was partially filmed back to back on Thursday Island with 'The Hounds of The Deep'

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The story of the 1914-1916 Antarctic exploration mission of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

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Frank Hurley (1885-1962) was firmly established by 1925 as Australia's most famous photographer. An artist interested less in expressing human experiences than the grandeur of nature and the romance of exotic lands, his work was known to Australians through books, newspaper features and documentary films. His journeys began in December, 1911 when he joined Mawson's expedition to Antarctica as official photographer; his stills of the Expedition were widely published around the world and this documentary "Home of the Blizzard" was released in 1913.

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