A paragraph in Table Talk offers the following, rather disconnected, take on the film:
Saw "The Golden West" this week. A fine film of entirely Australian origin. Preliminary canter at the King's Theatre, George-street. The artists all clever Australians; Miss Sara Collins the leading lady. Scenery magnificent; local, too. Delicious little bit of Manly and Middle Harbor. The Australian gee-gee taking no end of a hand; the heroine swimming a wide and deep lagoon, accompanied by a faithful Warrigal, otherwise Jacky, of dusky origin. [sic] The situations are exciting and sending the house into the wildest hand-clapping and applause. Pathe Freres not the only pebble on the beach, you see. Will now have to compete with the man from "down under." Manager told me film men waiting three deep round the office to buy up the "right to show" this Australian picture. Now and again the audience recognising a familiar bit, a house, or a bend in the road, or man on horseback. Audience yelling itself hoarse: "Coo-ee!" "Bully for Australia!" And why shouldn't we, I'd like to know? Local touch quite nice for a change, and "potted" drama the biggest money-making concern of the century.
Source:
'Fanella', 'Week by Week', Table talk, 30 March 1911, p.29 (via Trove Australia)
