Trading out of Stanley

Now a quiet fishing village and holiday destination, picturesque Stanley lies on Tasmania’s North West coast. For 160 years it was a bustling trading port for both inward and outward goods. Timber was one its main exports followed by farm produce. Trade was principally with Melbourne, but it has also enjoyed close seaborne connections with King Island and the Hunter Group. In Trading out of Stanley, we hear from seamen who worked the little ships as well as the Islanders themselves, who earned a hard an honest living grazing livestock and mutton birding. They grew up in an era without communications when sometimes smoke signals had to be resorted to in case of emergency. Their stories are amply illustrated with period photos and archival footage. DVD 90 mins.