The Birth of White Australia
The Birth of White Australia
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The Birth of White Australia

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The Birth of White Australia

The Birth of White Australia is a 1928 Australian silent film directed by Phil K. Walsh. It is an historical drama about the settlement of white Australia, including scenes of Captain Cook's landing at Botany Bay, skirmishes with Australian Aborigines and the Lambing Flat riots. This was Australia's last silent feature film, thanks to the advent of "talkies".

The film moves back and forth in time. It covers Captain Cook's landing at Botany Bay, clashes with Australian aborigines, and the discovery of gold. The main plot concerns the Lambing Flat riots, which is depicted as partly being caused by the Chinese attempting to murder a white girl after she criticises them for washing their clothes in the drinking water. The film ends with the introduction of legislation restricting Chinese immigration.

Aboriginal actors from Yass and Batemans Bay appeared in the opening scenes depicting life before colonization.

The leading man, has been named as Lionel Henry, and the leading lady, Miss O'Brien, "a Sydney girl".

Dot McConville, a resident of Leeton, was well-known as a champion horsewoman.

Scenes of cattle mustering were shot at "Eubindal" station, Binalong with many citizens of the Yass district taking part, notably E. de Mestre of Binalong, Jack Garry and P. Garry, of "Glengarry", Frank Bennett of "Mylora," and C. Cunningham, of "The Lagoon".

J. T. O'Neill, Mollie Donoghue and Rita Aslin are cited as taking part. Sarah Musgrave, a 96 year-old pioneer of the Young district, also featured in the film.

There is also an appearance by Billy Hughes and other dignitaries, seen in the section depicting the opening of Federal Parliament.

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