State Library of New South Wales

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The State Library of New South Wales' major subject strengths are Australian history, culture and literature, including Aboriginal studies, Antarctic exploration, family history and genealogy, business and management, social sciences, applied science, biography, health and law. The State Library is home to one of Australia’s most significant historical and heritage collections. As well as nearly 11 kilometres of manuscripts – from nine 1788 First Fleet journals through to the archives of contemporary organisations and writers – the Library holds more than one million photographs. From the earliest surviving photograph taken in Australia – in January 1845 – through to digital photographs taken last month, the Library’s unrivalled photographic collections document with powerful clarity the way Australians have lived their lives over two centuries. You can find out more about the State Library's photographic collections on our website: www.sl.nsw.gov.au

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341
1825
2025

 

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31% of these photos are geotagged.

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Miss Child, playing cricket, ca. 1935, Sam Hood

from State Library of New South Wales

Whakairo (Māori carving), Hawera, Taranaki region, Aotearoa (New Zealand), 1939

from State Library of New South Wales

  • 14 older comments, and then…
  • clive422 said:
    With stone chisels! Outstanding
  • Michael Gschwind said:
    Glückwunsch zu Explore !
  • Lloyd Thrap said:
    Congrats on Explore! 🏆📷🏆
  • Nicolas Appel said:
    This came together captivating. Well deserved spot in explore!
  • Pattaya Patrol said:
    Congratulations on making Explore - what a well-deserved recognition! This image beautifully captures the quiet focus and skill of the carver as they bring the whakairo to life; the way the light falls across the totem and the artisan's hands makes the moment feel timeless and reverent. Your composition and timing honor both the craft and the cultural significance of the work - stunning storytelling through a single frame. Keep sharing these powerful glimpses; your eye for atmosphere and respect for the subject truly stands out.

Aerial view of Macquarie Street, Botanical Gardens and Domain, Sydney, c. 1935

from State Library of New South Wales

  • covid convict said:
    I think the date might be mid 1920s...

    One date marker is the signage on the Goldsbrough Mort wool store at Circular Quay...

    Goldsbrough Mort moved all their Sydney wool store and warehouse operations to Pyrmont some time in ca. 1923…they retained their Circular Quay office at Goldsbrough House, the former Harrison Jones & Devlin wool store, which fronted Loftus St, etc…

    The Circular Quay wool store was sold to City Parking Stations Ltd in 1926…and then in December 1927 it was sold again to the Farmers and Graziers’ Co-operative…I haven’t yet managed to establish when the ‘Farmers & Graziers’ signage replaced the ‘Goldsbrough Mort’ signage, but it appears not to have been until 2+ years later, in ca. July-August 1930…

    trove.nla.gov.au - Sydney Mail, 27th August, 1930...this pic shows the 'Farmers & Graziers' signage in place...

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    Another date marker is British Medical Association House, which was built 1929-30...it's at 135-137 Macquarie St, near the Astor apartments...but I don't think we see it here...it's difficult to be certain, but I also can't see Locarno, No. 141 Macquarie St, completed ?1926...or Harley, No. 143 Macquarie St, completed ?1927...

    trove.nla.gov.au - this NLA Fairfax aerial pic appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 9th March, 1932...I gather it had been taken recently...it shows the buildings in Macquarie St as they then appeared...

    trove.nla.gov.au - this NLA Fairfax aerial pic appeared in the Sun on 27th March, 1927...it was evidently taken the previous day, when the Duke and Duchess of York arrived in Sydney on what was the first leg of their tour of Australia...this pic also shows the buildings in Macquarie St...as they were in early 1927...

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    trove.nla.gov.au - another date marker is the Sir Richard Bourke statue...which was moved to its present location outside the Mitchell Library in late May/early June, 1925...I think it's there...so this might be an earliest date...

    Another date marker/s are Gilbert Bayes' bronze statues 'The Offerings of Peace' and 'The Offerings of War', which were placed outside the entrance to the Art Gallery in ca. October/November 1926...it's difficult to tell, but I don't think they appear here...

    So all up, I think the date might be 1925-26...
  • State Library of New South Wales said:
    👍that's really helpful. Thanks.
  • covid convict said:
    Another date marker is the tree outside the Art Gallery which was chopped down on 27th October, 1925...it's difficult to tell, but I don't think it's there...so this might be an earliest date...we see the tree still there outside the Art Gallery in this aerial pic...
  • covid convict said:
    ...or 1927-28 given the state of construction of the Royal Automobile Club building in Macquarie St...

    trove.nla.gov.au - the Sunday Times, 10th April, 1927...pic of the Automobile Club Building under construction...
  • Freiburg DL said:
    Covid Convict I too have been attempting to ascertain the date Farmers & Graziers was painted onto the GM woolstore at the Quay. The earliest image with F&G is dated from a 7 Nov 1929 aerial of the quay in an SMH article on a cabinet decision to proceed with the Bradfield plan for Circular Quay Stn.
    I have Sam Hood and Arthur E Foster images from 1928 still with GM, but the latest one with an actual date is 30 Dec 1927 from a pic from the NLA.
    I feel the change was around Aug-Sep 1929 but cannot narrow it down conclusively yet.
    Also the RAC building looks substantially complete and that was completed by March-April 1928.

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