Aboriginal • Find • State Library of South Australia

Elcho Island foreshore

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1940, Photograph, PRG 933/13/485

"The foreshore of Elcho mission, Howard Island in the distance".

Dispensary at Elcho Island

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1945, Photograph, PRG 933/13/489

"The dispensary at Elcho Island".

Dancer at a corrobboree

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/491

"A dancer at a corrobboree at Milingimbi, 1930s".

Mission boat 'Larrpan' beached on Elcho Island

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1953, Photograph, PRG 933/13/329

"Digging out the 'Larrpan' beached high and dry on the beach at Elcho Island 1950s".

Framework for a shelter

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/342

"Framework of a mosquito proof humpy at Arafura Swamp on mainland near Milingimbi 1930s".

Keith Langford Smith at Milingimbi

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/345

"Langford Smith landed at Milingimbi 1930s". Keith Langford Smith, the 'Sky pilot of Arnhem Land', pioneered Missionary aviation in Arnhem Land in 1931-1936.

Harold Shepherdson using a pedal radio

Shepherdson, Harold, 1932, Photograph, PRG 933/13/349

"At the pedal radio, we contacted Cloncurry 700 miles away on Morse Code 1930s - had good results". The radio was introduced in 1931 and it was built by Harold Shepherdson.

Missionary staff in fancy dress

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/350

"Some of the N Australia staff having some fun".

Missionary staff of Milingimbi

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/351

"The staff of Milingimbi. Rather overdressed for the tropics, from L-R: my wife, Sister Lambert, Ailsa, Mrs Webb, Donald, Rev T.T. Webb, 1930s. We changed the dressing way later on. Mosquitos and sand flies very bad at Milingimbi." Donald and Ailsa may have been the children of T.T. Webb.

Makarrata ceremony

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/353

"A makarrata in progress".

Funeral at Milingimbi

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/357

"At a funeral, we had an epidemic of measles and whooping cough and a number of children died. The parents of the children would pour cold water over the children when they had a high temperature".

Makarrata ceremony

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/359A

"Another Makarrata in progress".

Makarrata ceremony

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/359B

"Another Makarrata in progress".

Paula with cassava roots

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/365

"Paula with cassava roots from the Mission garden".

Men's prayer group, Milingimbi

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/370

"The men's group at morning prayers".

Girls playing 'mothers and babies'

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/372

"Girls playing at babies and mothers".

Makarrata ceremony

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/374

"A war party coming from the mainland to fight another tribe at Milingimbi. They were persuaded to make a Makarrata (friend making ceremony)". This may be related to the 'squabble' referred to in PRG 933/13/133.

Picnic party on the mission boat 'McBride'

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1930, Photograph, PRG 933/13/379

"A picnic party on the mission boat McBride". The McBride was shipwrecked in 1932.

Oil boring equipment, Elcho Island

Shepherdson, Harold, 1924, Photograph, PRG 933/13/397

"The oil boring set up at Elcho Island, 1924, Abandoned, no oil".

Loading logs for transportation to Milingimbi

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/403

"Loading logs at the Cadell Straits for Milingimbi sawmill".

Motor boat 'George Urquhart'

Shepherdson, Harold, c. 1935, Photograph, PRG 933/13/406

"The motor boat (George Urquhart) ready for launching". Possibly the boat was named 'George Urquhart' after a relative of Harold Shepherdson (Urquhart was his middle name).