Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection

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The Photographic Collection We hold tens of thousands of archival photos from the late 19th Century to the present, capturing life in New South Wales in much of its richness and diversity. The original formats of these images vary widely, from glass plates and lantern slides to 35mm negatives, colour transparencies and prints. More images from our photographic collection can be searched for from the Homepage on our website.

When were these photos taken?

2025-05-20T15:31:57.775696 image/svg+xml Matplotlib v3.10.1, https://matplotlib.org/ 2002 2022 300

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Recent uploads

The last upload was August 2022.

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Nurses leaving Blackfriars Depot, Chippnedale NSW [during flu epidemic]

from Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection

  • Howard Burrows said:
    Royal Enfield V Twin outfit.
  • beachcomber australia said:
    See also ...
  • beachcomber australia said:
    They are in Buckland St - Blackfriars St off to the left behind. GoogleMapsStreetView - goo.gl/maps/jLqWh
  • juantoo34 said:
    Car is a Regal Underslung model N roadster from 1913-4, manufactured in Detroit, USA. Note up-turned front chassis members with axle and leaf springs above, giving the vehicle a lower centre of gravity and therefore better handling. [www.vintagedrivingmachines.com/userimages/adpics/21456592...]
  • Wayne Hill said:
    Only the people have changed, 2023 post COVID-19

Sydney University - Medical School

from Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection

  • 3 older comments, and then…
  • Pier Damiano Cimatti said:
    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Sanità, un po' di anni addietro, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
  • bibby1989 said:
    Two of my decendants graduated from and held positions at this medical school...Sir Grafton Elliott Smith and Dr. Stewart Arthur Smith...This photo is fabulous!
  • Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection said:
    bibby1989 You might be also interested in these ones listed in our catalogue Photo Investigator AB
  • Mich said:
    your descendants ?
  • bibby1989 said:
    Oops...ancestors

Electric 'toastrack' trams at Circular Quay (NSW)

from Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection

  • 7 older comments, and then…
  • beachcomber australia said:
    [http://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] Ha! I thought you had gone 'batty' from looking at these old photos. The poles and wires are really ugly - I think they were building the Cahill Expressway.

    GoogleMapsStreetView - maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Sydney+NSW&hl=en&ll=-33...
  • Mich said:
    Well that large building in the background is half built. Its the museum of contemporary art which was originally the Maritime Services Board. If I recall correctly, it was built around 1938, and unlike the Opera House it didn't take 17 years to complete, so being in a half-built condition like that should narrow down the date that the photograph was taken within about 6 months or so.
    Not sure why you would have "dated earlier than 10/12/1952" so specifically, but I think this photo was taken about 1938 or thereabouts.
  • Unidentified : Collins, Gegg, O'Neil Families said:
    The tram shown in the photo doesn't appear to be a toastrack but another type (name unknown) that was in use in Sydney. The toastrack had compartments which could be entered from each side of the tram with two seats going right across the width of the vehicle. Thus each compartment lined up alongside each other and gave the impression of a toast rack with its slices of toast.
  • Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection said:
    Unidentified : Collins, Gegg, O'Neil Families You can only really see one side of the trams in this image. However, I'd assume there'd be identical openings on the opposite sides allowing entry from either side of the tram.
    Have a look at this image of a Toastrack 'O' class tram - there are some similarities to the trams shown in this image.
    www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=208027&...
    However we might need an expert in the tram field to confirm exactly what kind of tram it is!
  • Mich said:
    I didn't realise that building was built in two halves.

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