Winter on the Western Tiers of Tasmania

This silent home movie from 1930 was shot by Herbert John King, who rode his motorcycle through the Tasmanian snowfields in winter. King is following another motorbike and sidecar that almost gets bogged in the treacherous conditions. The breathtaking landscapes are filmed on and around the Great Western Tiers, now part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site. Highlights include riding through the snow on the Great Lake Road (Highland Lakes Road), extraordinary icicles at Weeping Rock (on the road to Great Lake), and traversing snow and skiing on Projection Bluff and on the top of the Great Western Tiers. 

The footage is all the more awesome once you appreciate the difficulty that must have gone into capturing it. Any imperfections in framing or natural lighting add authenticity, reminding us of the physical effort required to document such remote places in 1930. The film’s most compelling moments convey adventure, hardship and natural beauty. However, there's also a sense of fun as we see the holidaymakers (presumably King's family) throwing snowballs and playing in the snow. The film's historical value lies in its being a testament to both the landscape’s grandeur and the filmmaker’s determination.