National Museum of Australia - 1920 April expedition

1920 April expedition

Warning: This exhibition and website contain some images of nudity and people in distressing circumstances. Visitors should also be aware that the exhibition and website include names and images of deceased people that may cause sadness or distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Second medical relief expedition

The Basedows embarked on a second medical relief expedition in South Australia only four and a half months after returning from the first.

During the two-month trip they travelled along South Australia's coast as far as Eucla, Western Australia, and visited the Nullarbor and locations along the Trans-Australian Railway. They travelled in various cars, a Ford truck and a mule-drawn buggy, as well as by train. Basedow took a glass negative camera and a film camera on the journey.

Basedow examined more than 400 Aboriginal people, with chest and eye complaints being the most common ailments. Most people were inspected at Koonibba mission in the south and at Ooldea along the railway, where they met Daisy Bates, who was working with the local Aboriginal people.

Although Basedow found the health of people on the coast to be satisfactory, he reported unfavourably on the health of those living along the railway line. He recommended that Aboriginal people be prevented from going within a certain distance of the railway, and encouraged their return to the 'wilds'.

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Yalata station homestead, South Australia 1920. The homestead is in the right far distance of the image. A woman in the right middle ground walks toward it with her back to the camera. Two drays with horses are in the middle of the image. The corner of a large barn style building is at the left side of the image. The foreground shows bare earth with what appear to be exposed sections of flat rock.

Nell Basedow (right) at Yalata station homestead, South Australia 1920

photograph by Herbert Basedow
reproduced from film negative
National Museum of Australia

An Aboriginal man at a European grave in a remote location, Yalata Station, South Australia 1920. The grave is marked by a large horizontal slab; on top of that is a plaque with information of the deceased. The Aboriginal man squats at the top left corner of the grave, with his hands almost touching the plaque. He wears a coat, trousers and peaked cap. The background is open ground leading to the horizon.

Mugena, an assistant explorer on Richard Maurice's expeditions, at Maurice's grave Yalata station, South Australia 1920

photograph by Herbert Basedow
reproduced from glass plate negative
National Museum of Australia

Portrait of a young Aboriginal man, South Australia 1920. He wears a headband high on his forehead. His long hair hangs down on his neck and shoulders. He faces the left side of the image with his head turned toward the camera. He appears to wear a coat or heavy shirt. His face is in deep shadow, however his eyes can still be seen looking at the camera. The background is out of focus, adding emphasis to the young Aboriginal man.

Young man, Ooldea, South Australia 1920

photograph by Herbert Basedow
reproduced from glass plate negative
National Museum of Australia