maid

Such a great picture the cot is gorgeous and the wall art is lovely!

I knew I had seen this picture before, then I looked at the photographer. Gordon Parks, can't get much better than that.

His version of American Gothic. Great image and there is a wonderful story behind this if you watch his biography.

Gordon Parks is my favorite photographer.

TexKap and all: It is certainly a striking image, and one that is part of a larger series of images of Ella Watson taken by Gordon Parks over the course of nearly a month. The story behind the images is as interesting as the photos themselves. A bit about Mr. Parks, his work with the Farm Security Administration and specifically this series of images can be found here on the Library's website: Ella Watson, U.S. Government Charwoman, Photographer: Gordon Parks.

American Gothic with many demographic traits

Read John Blaxland's biography here: adb.anu.edu.au/biography/blaxland-john-1796

" ... By 1860, the Blaxlands had lost control of the estate. By 1863, Newington was very run down, although the slaughterhouse and the saltpans were both still in use. At this time, ten hectares of land including Newington House were leased to the Methodist Church for use as a boys’ boarding school on the understanding that the rent from the first five years of occupancy would be used for repairs to the buildings. It was in July 1863 that nineteen pupils were admitted to the school. This humble beginning was the genesis of Newington College. By 1880, the College began the move to its present address in Stanmore, an inner-city western suburb of Sydney. Newington College on its Stanmore campus was officially opened on 15 January 1881. Newington Estate was eventually sold to John Wetherill in 1877 for £14,000. He subdivided the property into the Newington and Rosebridge Estates and was selling land for the next twenty years. In 1879, Newington House was offered for sale by auction but remained unsold although as early as June 1860, James Barnet, the Colonial Architect, reported on the house and buildings and concluded that it was suitable for a boys’ reformatory or a benevolent asylum for aged/destitute women that was then located at Hyde Park Barracks. He recommended that lots 78, 79, 87 and 88 of the Newington Estate should be purchased. In September 1879 a payment of £5,000 was made to Wetherill and by 1880 Newington House became Government property. In 1883, Newington House was opened as a Benevolent Asylum for Aged Women. Between 1912-18 buildings were added and the function of the facility changed from asylum to a state hospital with Newington House at one time being used as nurses’ quarters. In 1969, the house became the administration block within the Silverwater Correctional Complex. ... .... " From www.afloat.com.au/afloat-magazine/2009/january-09/John_Bl... So it seems that this photo is after 1880. There is an 1895 photo which shows the two palm trees at similar heights - nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an3366506-s70-a1. By 1922 the palm trees were taller - nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2726970 And by the time of this photo, the vegetation was winning - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=206419 So possibly c.1895. At the time the house was an Asylum for Aged Women, so Iwonder who the young children belonged to?

The house still stands in the middle of Silverwater Correctional Complex (prison) - GoogleMapsSatellite - goo.gl/maps/1QahQ

What a fantastic way of adaptive reuse. However it is sad that it can not be visited, or can it?

Luc Getting in is relatively easy - but getting out might be harder! Try ringing them - (02) 9289 5100 - www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/offender-management/cor... . Say you are investigating an old photo ...