‘Kangaroo’ in the Quorn Mercury
Posted by John Mannion on July 8th, 2008
“Quorn Mercury” 31 August 1950
COMPANY GOING AHEAD
IN TRUE AMERICAN STYLE
________
Colour Film Site Chosen
_______
TWENTY TEMPORARY HOUSES
TO BE BUILT IN 4 WEEKS
Final arrangements have been made for the location of the Technicolor film ‘Kangaroo’ on Mrs E, V. Farrell’s property, 12 miles east of Port Augusta at the foot of the Flinders Ranges. Messrs Saul Wertzel and Colin Hall executives of 20th Century-Fox with Mr W. R. Johnston of the SA Lands Board returned to Adelaide from Port Augusta on Thursday night.
The executives stated that Mrs Farrell had agreed to make available the 7,000 acre portion of her property on the western side of the Flinders Ranges. The homestead, Broadview, is several miles distant on the other side of the range, in the picturesque Mt Brown district.
TOWNSPEOPLE TO CO-OPERATE
A well attended public meeting in the Town Hall supper room on Friday night indicated that Port Augusta residents will co-operate whole heartedly in any way possible to help complete the film. The Mayor (Mr Riches MP) who presided, said that apart from the fact that 20th Century Fox would spend about 78,000 dollars a week on the project, almost every section of the community would benefit in some respect. He had been assured during a conference with Mr Snody, executive producer, that the people coming here would take part in the social and sporting life of the town and be good citizens.
The company was pushing ahead in true American style with the project and most of the staff hoped to be home again by Christmas. The Housing Trust had commenced clearing the land the day after the announcement the company had decided to come to Port Augusta was made and 20 temporary homes would be erected near Paringa Road to accommodate members of the unit. Three contractors had dropped their work in Adelaide to come to Port Augusta and the buildings would be completed in 4 weeks.
After the film had been finished the houses would become available for occupation by local people. The material to be used on location would be replaced by imported timber and iron, etc and when the structures were dismantled, the material would be sold in the district.
TWO-STOREY HOMESTEAD
Mr F. Fricker, who was introduced by Mr Riches, said that he did not want to come to Port Augusta when approached by the Premier (Mr Playford) as President of the Master Builders Association, he felt he was duty bound to render all assistance possible to a project which would be of such benefit to the State.
Mr Fricker added that executives of 20th Century Fox would fly from Sydney to Adelaide on Monday and come on to Port Augusta by car to lay out the site for the 20th century homestead to be used in the film. This two-storey structure would only be of a temporary nature and some of the walls would be fabricated in Adelaide, but the floor would have to be very solid to prevent the photographic machinery from vibrating.
After the meeting Mr Fricker met privately local contractors with a view to enlisting as much labor as possible. The employment of men during weekends was also discussed.
Tags: Kangaroo