Queen Elizabeth II watching a pearl demonstration at Milne Bay
Date1977
Object numberANMS1278[237]
NamePhotographic slide
MediumTransparency
DimensionsOverall: 50 x 50 mm
Copyright© Estate of Denis George
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the George Family and Adrian Jackson
DescriptionA 35mm black-and-white transparency of Queen Elizabeth II watching a pearl demonstration during her visit to Papua New Guinea in 1977.HistoryAfter leaving Australia in 1966, Denis George moved to Papua New Guinea and established the Samarai Pearl farm on Pearl Island in Milne Bay province. Despite opposition from various interests, John Guise who was then a member of the House of Assembly supported him. He established a school of pearl culture that he named after John Guise, to train locals in diving for shell, making equipment, tending pearl shells, seeding pearl shells and processing half pearls. The project comprised a number of village pearl farms that functioned in association with the 'mother farm' where George performed technical operations, provided material, processed, and sold the pearls. His family worked alongside him.
The Milne Bay Pearl Farmers Association was set up in 1973 to protect individual interests of the participating pearl farmers and in 1975 the official opening of the Milne Bay Pearl Industry took place, under the auspices of the now Prime Minister Sir John Guise. The pearl culture industry at Milne Bay received considerable attention in 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Milne Bay and saw a demonstration of pearl industry activities.SignificanceThe Queen and Prince Philip visited Papua New Guniea in 1977 during the Silver Jubilee tour and stopped at Denis George's pearling operations at Milne Bay.
