This series captures the sparse, rural life in the northern Australian beef industry, spanning Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland, where approximately 11 million cattle and just over one million Australians coexist.
It showcases a rich tapestry of landscapes, diverse cattle breeds, horsemen, bull riders, nuanced neon signs and architecture, character hats, and the spirit of working through floods, droughts and heat.
Shot on enduring Kodachrome film, the collection of over 20,000 images was temporarily lost. Thankfully, the miracle of Kodachrome film survived four floods, dozens of summer heat above 45 degrees, and tropical humidity. The series was digitally restored, allowing it to reach local and international audiences.
This initiative documents the entire beef supply chain, from paddocks to processing plants, including work in slaughterhouses and alongside drovers. It preserves the essence of a changing rural landscape as rail lines and iconic 1950s neon signs fade away. The series aligns with significant rural social documentary projects like the US Farm Administration of the 1940s and the CSR Sugar Refineries project of the 1980s.
While the use of ‘colour’ is taken for granted today, this series pioneered colour photography, aligning with trends in the USA at the time. Many images were captured at dusk, highlighting the region’s unique character.
