page_title: Ernest Gustav Brandon-Cremer
section_title: Lasseter's Reef of Gold, 1931
hierarchical_section_title: Ernest Gustav Brandon-Cremer / Lasseter's Reef of Gold, 1931
caption_attribution_description: English: Ernest Brandon-Cremer history timeline
context_page_description: Ernest Gustav Brandon-Cremer was a New Zealand/Australian moviemaker, newsman, explorer and adventurer. He was a key figure in Australian aviation history, and was especially known for his documentation of Lasseter's Gold Reef as well as his photography of the Solar eclipse of 21 September 1922 at Wallal, Australia.
context_section_description: The gold prospector Lewis Harold Bell Lasseter had become famous by telling the story of his outback survival and discovery of a massive reef of surface gold near Uluru, Northern Territory. Members of the Sydney Stock Exchange organised the 'Central Australian Gold Exploration' Company (CAGE) to venture outback and rediscover this find. Camel trains and aircraft were sent out to scour the surrounds. One night during the expedition, Lasseter on camelback disappeared into the dark. After a futile search the party returned to Sydney.
  A second Expedition was organised called CAGE-II. In August 1931, while working for Cinesound, 'Bud' signed-on with the Central Australian Gold Exploration Company (CAGE-II) to produce all the photography and a documentary film for a search party expedition to attempt to find Lasseter and his fabled reef of gold. The party to be led by local Bob Buck, a close friend of Brandon-Cremer.
  The party left Alice Springs on Camel back en route to Uluru and the Western Ranges. A few hundred kilometres west of Uluru they discovered a tree with inscriptions and directions, left by Lasseter, to a river and cave. Upon digging a short while, Buck and Brandon-Cremer discovered the bones of Harold Lasseter, and his diary. A subsequent search did not find the fabled reef of gold. The story has become Australian folklore and some still believe the reef of gold exists.
  Some of Brandon-Cremer's photos were later published in the chronicle of Lasseter's Last Ride by Ion L. Idriess. The Mitchell Library in Sydney retains some of the photos taken during the expedition.
  Prior to the CAGE-II Expedition as it was called, 'Bud' was credited in the Sydney Sunday Guardian, in August 1931 – "Mr. Ernest Brandon-Cremer is the photographer. A complete moving picture record of the expedition's activities is to be taken by Mr. Cremer, who comes from Hollywood." He was also referenced for this Lasseter connection in the Horden House Encyclopedia of Exploration.
caption: History timeline
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