Until the age of 9, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks (1937–2022) lived on remote Utopia Station in the Northern Territory where she learnt the Aboriginal laws of her tribe, the Amatjere people.

The Star Theatre in Darwin at night. The cinema billboard advertises the world premiere of Charles Chauvel's Jedda, starring Ngarla Kunoth and Robert Tudawali, in January 1955.

Until the age of 9, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks (1937–2022) lived on remote Utopia Station in the Northern Territory where she learnt the Aboriginal laws of her tribe, the Amatjere (Anmatyerre) people.

In this scene, Jedda (Rosalie Kunoth-Monks) sits and begins to play the piano in a European style.

Until the age of nine, Rosalie Kunoth-Monks lived on remote Utopia Station in the Northern Territory where she learnt the Aboriginal laws of her tribe, the Anmatjere people.

The infant Jedda, snuggled in a coolomon, is carried into the squatters’ kitchen.

Marbuck (Robert Tudawali) and Jedda (Ngarla Kunoth) are in a cave. Marbuck, gradually losing his mind, begins to hallucinate.

Jedda (Ngarla Kunoth), sitting by an open window, gazes out dreamily. Her adoptive mother (Betty Suttor), eventually comes to stand by her side.

On 3 January 1955 the Star Picture Theatre became part of Australian film history when it screened the world premiere of Jedda.

Graham Shirley reports from the recent Film and History Association of Australia and New Zealand conference in Melbourne.