nrs4481

So 'open plan' offices are not new, well at least for the 'foot soldiers'.

Yes, my first thought too was 'open plan office'. My aunt used to type on one of these typewriters. They were very noisy and, after each line there was the noise of the lever being pulled, the carriage slammed to the start position, and then more hammering when the letters hit the paper again. The timber desk are beautiful!

Is this in the old Public Instruction Office, which was about to be replaced by the Education Department building? Behind the moreton bay fig trees here - Upset in 1912 at the loss of those trees - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15349335

Bring your own cushion, as the fellow on the right has. The typewriter looks like it is sitting on an old singer sewing machine table. Funny how the blinds are shut. One would have thought they would be open to allow as much light in as possible.

dunedoo Isn't it interesting what we see in this photo! Yes, the cushion caught my eyes too and you may well be right about the Singer sewing machine table! It certainly looks like one. I wonder whether the blinds were closed to enable more even interior light for the photo shoot. Bright day light streaming in may have made even exposure very difficult. I think this is photographic excellence in making the shot and processing.

Well organized though

I think the girl in front is knife sharpening, others are polishing silver, waxing their desk tops, and cleaning window panes and sills.