Monthly Archive for February, 2010

Lillian Wightman

Published by Iwona Hetherington on February 28, 2010 2 Comments Tags: , , .

This striking, dramatically lit portrait photograph is of Lillian Wightman, the founder of Melbourne high – class, Parisian – style fashion house Le Louvre. It was taken in 1974 by the distinguished fashion photographer Bruno Benini; at that time Lillian Wightman was 71 years old. The image stands out from the extensive collection of Benini’s photographs acquired by the Museum last year, with the vast majority of them dedicated to capturing models’ youth and beauty.

Photography by Bruno Benini
© All rights reserved

Tyrrell Today highlight

Published by Paula Bray on February 27, 2010 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

Photography by irvinj
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Photography by Kerry and Co
No known copyright restrictions

This image titled ‘Cook Monument, Kurnell’ was taken by one of the members in our Tyrrell Today group on Flickr. This group is a place for our members to post their contemporary versions to match the locations of our historic images in the Tyrrell Collection. Our image titled ‘’Capt. Cook’s Monument, Kurnell’, Kerry and Co, Sydney, Australia, c. 1884-1917’ was taken by Kerry and Co. Our databse states:

‘This photographic negative is one of 2900 Kerry & Co. photographs in the Powerhouse Museum’s ‘Tyrrell Collection’ once owned by Sydney bookseller, James Tyrrell. Almost all of these negatives are 21.5 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 inch) glass plates and many of those now held by the Powerhouse Museum collection would have been used to create postcards. In addition to the Kerry & Co. Studio images, the Tyrrell Collection at the Powerhouse Museum includes glass plate negatives published by Henry King and a number of other negatives by unattributed photographers’

Watering sheep in the interior: relying on underground supplies

Published by Paula Bray on February 26, 2010 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Until the 1880s sheep could only be grazed in areas where there was lots of surface water- in rivers and dams, for example. The first of many bores was sunk into the Great Artesian Basin near Bourke in 1878. It tapped a reliable, underground source of water and so opened up the arid north-west of NSW to graziers.

By bringing water to the surface, settlers provided water for wildlife as well. As a result kangaroo populations in some arid regions are very much higher today than they were 100 years ago.

Photography by Charles Kerry Studio
No known copyright restrictions
Post by Sandra McEwen, Principal Curator

Park rules

Published by Kathy Hackett on February 25, 2010 0 Comments Tags: , , .

This photograph from the Tyrrell collection, titled Hyde Park, shows some early 20th century Sydneysiders enjoying a concert of the kind that was usually organised by the City Council. There is a power pole visible in the middle ground on the right hand side of the picture and light bulbs are suspended from the roof of the bandstand indicating that the photograph was taken sometime after Hyde Park was provided with electrical illumination in November 1905. The Council paid military and civilian bands to perform in the Park and it was reported that there were sometimes as many as 10,000 attendees on fine evenings. The entertainment was, however, occasionally disrupted by gangs of roughs and larrikins.

Although they look innocent enough, a few of the people in this photograph may have been flouting Park regulations. It was forbidden to lie on the grass in Hyde Park, a measure designed to discourage ‘loafers’, a derogatory term that was used for those perceived to be unemployed and homeless by choice.

Other activities that were not permitted in the Park at this time included: bathing, washing, hanging washing out to dry, snaring birds, climbing trees, betting, casual games, playing musical instruments and singing.

There are at least two other photographs of the same event in the Tyrrell collection: The Bandstand, Hyde Park and Hyde Park.

Photography by Kerry & Co.
No known copyright restrictions.

Commonwealth Arch

Published by Paula Bray on February 24, 2010 2 Comments Tags: , , .

On 1 January Sydney celebrated Australia becoming a Federation by hosting a grand procession through its streets. Erected at the intersection of Park and Elizabeth Streets was the Federation ‘Commonwealth Arch’ (also referred to as the ‘Citizens Arch’). It was the largest and most expensive arch in the celebrations and was constructed by Hudson and Son under the supervision of its designer, Varney Parkes, son of the late Henry Parkes. The entire structure appeared to be made from marble but was in fact constructed using ‘bagesse’ plaster, a new process patented by Taylor and Knox.

No known copyright restrictions
Post by Geoff Barker, Assistant Curator

Visitor photography: Flickr group highlight

Published by Paula Bray on February 23, 2010 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .


Originally uploaded by Familiar.

This simple but wonderfully graphic image was taken by one of our visitors who has added this to our new group on Flickr Me and the Powerhouse Museum. This image shows the roof space above our Inspired! design across time exhibition that is located opposite the foyer as you enter the Museum. This great shot has highlighted the curve and lines of the roof structure but also some of the graphic architectural features painted red and white that have been designed specifically for this gallery.

Photography by Familiar
© All rights reserved

Don Harkness archive joins the Commons

Published by Paula Bray on February 22, 2010 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

This image comes from the Don Harkness archive and we have just started loading some of the great images to the Commons on Flickr. This archive provides a complete visual record of the career of the pioneer in the Australian automotive and aeronautical industry, Don Harkness. Harkness, born in Leichhardt NSW in 1898 was a record breaking racing driver. Our database states:

‘Harkness developed an interest in motor racing and in 1924 he imported an Overland chassis which he modified extensively. In this car (christened “Whitey”) Harkness won about 50 events at the Penrith and Maroubra tracks and at Gerringong’s Seven Mile Beach during 1925.’

This particular image shows an Overland car being driven down the steps of the Sydney Town Hall during the mid 1920s.

Photography by Milton Kent
No known copyright restrictions.

Folk Festival, Stuttgart 1931

Published by Iwona Hetherington on February 21, 2010 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

These are two of about fifty photographs taken by Hedda Hammer (Morrison) in 1931 at the annual folk festival in her home town of Stuttgart, Germany.

Most of the photographs in this series depict people dressed in regional costumes; there are also a couple of dramatic close-ups of mannequins wearing elaborate headdresses captured from unusual vantage points which would indicate Hedda’s interest in the ‘New Objectivity’ approach. It is not surprising – studying photography in Germany in the 1920s she would have been exposed to the ideas of Neue Sachlichkeit movement. Interestingly, while many photographers of that time were fascinated by industrial forms, Hedda seemed always drawn to people and their culture.

The Stuttgart Folk Festival photos are among the few known photographs taken by Hedda Hammer before she left Germany for China in 1933. They nicely complement the extensive collection of her much better known photographs from China and Hong Kong as they give us an interesting insight into the early stages of her photographic career and the origins of her unique style.

Photography by Hedda Hammer (Morrison)
No known copyright restrictions

A punch that would fell an ox

Published by Kathy Hackett on February 20, 2010 1 Comment Tags: , .

This photograph was produced by the Charles Kerry studio between 1909 and 1914, when Bill Lang was the heavyweight boxing champion of Australia. In this skilfully lit portrait Lang stands poised to deliver a ‘right hand body blow,’ as per the caption inscribed on the negative.

Born William Langfranchi in Melbourne in 1883, Lang was initially more interested in competitive bicycle riding. It was while working in the opal fields of Whitecliffe that he first showed a talent for boxing. His career in what writer Joyce Carol Oates describes as ‘the sweet science of bruising’ eventually took him to the United States. On July 31, 1910, the Bridgeport Herald wrote of the young Australian:

Lang is a quiet, big fellow, big boned and well built. He has a grey blue eye, one of the sort that when it flashes doesn’t know quit until its owner is insensible. It is not an eye to monkey with. It is slow to anger but mighty full of wrath when it gets aroused. It’s the sort of an eye that will let the lips curl into a smile and then deliver a punch that would fell an ox. Always look out for such eyes when you see them in the boxing ring.

Out of the ring, it seems that Lang was a much more affable person. After his knockout defeat of Bob Fitzsimmons in the 12th round of their match at the Sydney Stadium in Rushcutters Bay on Boxing Day, 1909, the two shared a bottle of champagne in the dressing room.

Photograph by Kerry & Co.
No known copyright restrictions.

Recreating Pac-Man

Published by Paula Bray on February 19, 2010 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The Museum recently hosted a retro gaming weekend held in late January that invited visitors to re-live playing 80s computer games such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Galaga!, The weekend featured local and international gaming experts plus a number of activities and opportunities for kids to get creative with games-based craft workshops. This image was taken from the level above the Turbine Hall were the games were being played looking down onto the graphic representing Pac Man that could be played out in real time.

Photography by Sotha Bourn
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0