Ellison Reef: The Reef That Saved Them All

Imagery by Harriet Spark 

Earlier this year, our Global Head of Brand, Matt Lennon, travelled to Far North Queensland alongside the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), as documentary filmmakers Harriet Spark and Richard “Woody” Spark of Grumpy Turtle Films set out to capture the story of one of the most consequential reefs in Australia’s conservation history for their new film.

In 1967, Ellison Reef became the unlikely battleground for a proposal to mine coral rubble. What followed would change the course of environmental protection in Australia. A small group of citizen scientists, artists and local advocates rallied to prove that the reef was alive and worth saving. Their efforts halted the mining proposal, sparked a national outcry and helped lead to the creation of the Australian Marine Conservation Society and the eventual establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Ellison would come to be known as “the reef that saved all reefs.”

“THE REEF THAT SAVED ALL REEFS.”

Nearly sixty years later, a new generation has returned. Scientists, community divers, reef advocates and Mandubarra Sea Country rangers have revisited Ellison Reef to better understand how it has changed — and what it might reveal about the future of coral ecosystems as climate pressures intensify.

During our visit, we joined the AMCS team on the reef as Harriet and Woody documented the resurvey and the people behind it. Through their lens, the film combines archival material, science, art and intimate underwater storytelling, reflecting on the legacy of the original Fight for the Reef campaign while bringing today’s urgency into clear view.

Recently premiering as part of the Ocean Lovers film festival, Ellison: The Reef That Saved Them All is both a reflection on Australia’s conservation origins and a reminder that meaningful change often begins with committed individuals willing to speak up for the places that matter most.

Through our philanthropic initiative the Xanthe Project, we are proud to support organisations like AMCS who continue this work; protecting the reefs that shape our oceans, and our future.

Learn more about Ellison Reef and where you can see the film for yourself here.