Monthly Archive for January, 2010

On 1 January Sydney celebrated Australia becoming a Federation by hosting a grand procession through its streets. The Federation ‘Wool Arch’ was set up close to the wool stores at the intersection of Bridge and Loftus streets in Sydney. Mr. H. E. Ross, a member of the rural electorate of Narrabri, provided the original design. The wool alone was to cost 7000 pounds but costs and fears of the whole structure collapsing under the weight of the wool if it got wet, led to a new design. Walter Vernon was given the task of producing the final arch which consisted of brushed wool threaded through chicken wire and supported on a wooden frame.

No known copyright restrictions
Post by Geoff Barker, Assistant Curator

This beautiful photo of the NSW south-western slopes region was taken by Jean-Francois Lanzarone from the back of a ute in the very early morning. It looks serene…but the reality was hilarious. David Marsh, a farmer and terribly obliging host, had torn around his paddocks in response to Jean-Francois’ directions from the back through the open window. Fading dawn light added to the pressure to position the ute, Jean-Francois’ mobile studio, in just the right place. We laughed so much! The day resulted in wonderful photos for the Museum’s EcoLogic exhibition and a warm and lasting friendship with David and his family. It was a really rewarding assignment.

Photography by Jean-Francois Lanzarone
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0
Post by Sandra McEwen, Principal Curator

This photograph of a group of ten men who appear to be on a camping trip is another image from the Phillips collection that includes some signature playful elements. The numerals inscribed on the underside of a cooking pan attached to the top of the tent tell us that the year is 1902. This information enabled the dating of another photograph in which the group of men, all wearing the same clothes, take part in a staged fencing scene. Two of the men in this image are holding sticks similar to those used in the fencing photograph.

Displayed prominently in the foreground is an empty can of ‘O.K.’ brand white cling peaches, the significance of which remains a mystery. The presence of hand made signs and quirky props seem to indicate that some of the photographs in this collection were produced for the amusement of family and friends rather than for a wider audience.

No known copyright restrictions
Post by Kathy Hackett, Photo Librarian

In this beautiful portrait the photographer has utilised natural light and shallow depth of field to draw the viewer’s attention to the subject. Fine details of the tulle flowers and feathers on the woman’s hat are all clearly defined whereas the dark leaves and brick wall in the background recede into soft focus.

The photographer has also paid careful attention to the tonal elements in the composition, balancing the large area of dark in the background with the pale flower in the woman’s hat while her dark gloves serve to break up the large area of her white dress. A vase of slightly wilted flowers on the table gives the image a charming informal touch.

This photograph is part of a collection acquired from the estate of Raymond W. Phillips, a descendent of Arthur J. Phillips, a late nineteenth century Sydney assayer and gold refiner. The same woman appears in other, less formal, photographs in this collection and it is possible that she may have been a member of the family or a friend.

No known copyright restrictions
Post by Kathy Hackett, Photo Librarian

This atmospheric night shot shows the restoration of Loco 3830 at Eveleigh Railway workshops back in 1997. The following extract is from our database:

Locomotive 3830 represents the epitome of steam locomotive development in New South Wales. It was the last of the 38 class locomotives to be built and the last passenger locomotive to be designed and built by the New South Wales Government Railways in 1949.

With their capacity for sustained high speed, acceleration and hill climbing abilities the 38 class locomotives hauled the heaviest air-conditioned express services single-handed over some of the State’s steepest grades. Their range and reliability meant that this class could work trains the entire distance from Sydney to the break-of-gauge at Albury without an engine change.

The 38 class saw the last period of popular rail travel prior to the use of the domestic airlines and the increased popularity of the family car. They proved their worth by holding off the diesel invasion for over a decade and were gradually relegated to goods train operation but withdrawn from service during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Photography by Scott Donkin
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0