[Gadsden Family Home Movie Collection: Reel 53]

The Gadsden Company has a long and proud history of manufacture, dating back to its foundation by Jabez Gadsden in 1879. The company pioneered tinplate printing in Australia, and produced the first printed can the country had seen. By 1936 the company had twelve factories spread throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The company’s success allowed two generations of Gadsden family men – Stanley Gadsden and his son Ronald – to pursue their interest in amateur filmmaking (a relatively expensive hobby for the time). The two cameramen captured the family’s children, homes, many of its major events and holidays on film.

A collection of the films made by these Gadsden family photographers has been donated to ACMI by Chris Gadsden (Ronald’s son). The films comprise a fascinating assortment of imagery that provides a window into bygone days and customs.

Members of the Gadsden family on a skiing holiday at Falls Creek in Victoria in 1974. The family and their guests were all keen skiers and in this and other films Ron shows the atmosphere of their skiing holidays – the snow falling on buildings and slopes, the banks of snow, the ski village and activity.

This film was originally made using Super 8mm film.

Selected highlights list:
00:00:02:00 snow falling on a house roof, snowfields and trees
00:00:36:00 members of the Gadsden circle skiing downhill and performing jumps in the air
00:01:52:00 a ‘ski hoist’
00:02:16:00 Jess Gadsden, wearing one of her headscarves, prepares to ski
00:02:21:00 looking down at the ski resort from a higher vantage point
00:03:30:00 views around the slopes
00:05:45:00 the younger Gadsdens ski down a slope in short skis, ending with a flourish
00:06:54:00 more skiing around the slopes
00:07:20:00 using the ‘ski hoist’
00:09:21:00 skiers coming down the slope in succession
00:10:10:00 some falls in the snow followed by some tricks on skis.