Rare film footage from Bundaberg’s own ‘Mr Motion Pictures’, Doug Rattray, will be on display as part this year’s Australian Heritage Festival.
Doug was owner of the Paramount Picture Palace on Bourbong Street, which he ran from 1926 until his retirement in 1965.
In addition to his passion for Hollywood movies, Doug was a keen amateur cameraman and became a regular sight around town capturing major events and activities.
The thousands of metres of film he recorded provides a rare glimpse into life in the region from the 1930s to 1950s.
Bundaberg Regional Library and Gin Gin Library will screen some of Doug’s films, along with other local history videos, as part of Council’s Australian Heritage Festival celebrations.
Eye on history
Doug was born in 1897 and was active in the community, serving as a Bundaberg City Councillor for 27 years, including two terms as Deputy Mayor, and on the Bundaberg Ambulance Committee for over 40 years.
He was interested in both photography and filmmaking, and was a musician, playing in Rattray’s Dance and Picture Orchestra at his theatre.
As an enthusiastic movie maker, Doug filmed many events around Bundaberg including railway picnics, car rallies from Bargara to Bundaberg, rowing regattas and Sugar Festivals.
He documented buildings along Bourbong Street, filmed a Distillery fire and even went up in a biplane to capture the region’s coastline.
One of his earliest films was of Bert Hinkler returning to Bundaberg after his successful flight from England to Australia.
Digitised copies of some of his films are in the National Film and Sound Archives of Australia, with others retained in Bundaberg collections.
Information about Doug Rattray’s life is from Bundaberg Library’s heritage articles available on Arts Bundaberg.
Free screening times
Bundaberg Regional Library
Thursday 23 April, 10 am – 12 noon
Tuesday 28 April, 10 am – 12 noon
Wednesday 6 May, 10 am – 12 noon
Monday 11 May, 2.30 – 4.30 pm
Gin Gin Library
Wednesday 22 April, 10 am – 12 pm
Thursday 30 April, 1 – 3 pm
Australian Heritage Festival runs from Saturday 18 April to Monday 18 May.
For more events and activities, see the full Bundaberg Region Australian Heritage Festival program.
