A static Lumière Cinematographe has been used to capture the wheat harvest on a property in Queensland. Wills and Mobsby carried out what is believed to be the world’s first government-funded film project, commissioned in October 1898.
Wheat Harvesting with Reaper and Binder Synopsis
This actuality footage shows a horse-drawn Buckeye brand reaper and binder harvesting a wheat crop while labourers stack the wheat sheaves.
Curator's notes
This footage was taken by the official photographer of the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Frederick Charles Wills, and his assistant Henry William Mobsby in 1899. A static Lumière Cinematographe has been used to capture the wheat harvest on a property in Queensland.
Notes by Elizabeth Taggert - Speers