A piece of history rarely seen has been brought back to life. Recently digitised video of the now-extinct Toolache wallaby has emerged after almost 90 years. Filmed in 1936 by movie maker Bernard Cotton, the footage of the then-last-known wallaby of its species provides a haunting reminder of the delicate balance of nature.
This 16mm film, refurbished by the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA), changes from black-and-white to colour and captures the animal's last moments in the wild. The scenes depict the marsupial gliding effortlessly in the wild before it was lost forever because of hunting and habitat destruction.
A Window Into A Lost World
Shot near the town of Robe, more than 340 kilometres south of Adelaide, the film was captured just one month after the passing away of the last Tasmanian tiger. It was a poignant moment in time when many indigenous species were vanishing quickly.
The late Bernard Cotton must have realised the significance of what he recorded. The Toolache wallaby, once extolled for speed and looks, had nowhere to go in a transforming Australia. Human encroachment, coupled with hunting, sealed its fate.
Peter Matejcic of the Field Naturalists Society of South Australia commented on this loss. "Living alongside native species has always been challenging when human needs take priority," he said. He emphasised how important historical records are for gaining knowledge about species that lived previously.
How A Species Was Lost Forever
By the 1920s, the Toolache wallaby was almost extinct. A desperate attempt at a breeding program came to nothing, leaving the remaining wallabies stressed and ill. It was a tragic illustration of how conservation too often comes too late.
Australia continues to lead the world in the extinction rate of mammals. The Toolache wallaby's demise is a grim reminder of what can occur when something isn't done on schedule.
This recently uncovered footage now becomes something greater than mere film; it is an invaluable asset for generations to come. It provides scientists and the general public a unique window into how the species once was and how human endeavour led to its extinction.
Keeping Memories Alive Before They Fade
The NFSA's conservation effort is under the Deadline 2025 initiative to digitise Australia's screen heritage before it degrades beyond its original form. NFSA's lead technician Dave McGrouther stated that the rescue of the 16mm film was a time-sensitive operation because the material tends to shrink and warp.
This effort isn’t only about preserving one species but also about protecting Australia’s wider natural and cultural history. As more animals face extinction today, the urgency to save such visual records grows stronger.
The story of the Toolache wallaby serves as both a tribute and a warning—a reminder that without care and commitment, precious pieces of our natural world can be lost forever.
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