What clues can you find to date this image showing the view of Bare Island from La Perouse across Botany Bay to Kurnell?

Can you date this photograph?

Larger version on Flickr

We have many other undated photographs in Photo Investigator and on our Flickr account. If you know the dates or any other interesting facts about these images please let us know.

It’s time for another installment of What’s the bigger picture?

Is this clue enough for you to guess where this photograph was taken?

Can you tell us – what’s the bigger picture?

Digital ID: 20013_a035_06_17267000182.jpg
Date: earlier than 19/05/1943

The end of year concert, the annual school play or maybe even the school musical!

All schools have their plays and pageants giving students an insight into the drama and excitement of life on the stage!

Do these images from NRS 15051 Schools Photographs bring back any memories of productions at your school?

Caption: Albury Public School concert 1917 The Gleaners
Digital ID: 15051_a047_000103.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1917

Caption: Canterbury Public School – concert
Digital ID: 15051_a047_002507.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1932

Caption: Conservatorium High School – Primary Schools plays
Digital ID: 15051_a047_003144.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1954

Caption: Castle Hill Public School – concert
Digital ID: 15051_a047_002624.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1891

Caption: Burke Ward Public School – Empire Day pageant
Digital ID: 15051_a047_002048.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1910

Caption: Broken Hill Public School – student display [possibly May Day]
Digital ID: 15051_a047_001850.jpg
Date: c. 31/12/1904

Caption: Carlingford Public School
Digital ID: 15051_a047_002566.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1954

Caption: Adamstown Public School – Adamstown concert
Digital ID: 15051_a047_000026.jpg
Date: year only 31/12/1940

See more photos from NRS 15051 on Photo Investigator.

A large ongoing digitisation project currently underway here at State Records  is  the digitisation of Surveyors’ sketch books.

These tracings and sketches date from as early as 1828 and were done for the Office of the Surveyor General.

• Surveyor General sketch books, 1828-1890 (NRS 13886)

Of the 29 items (volumes) in this series so far 6 have been digitised with a total of c.700 images from these 6 items now available through Archives Investigator. Clearly we’ve still got a lot more to go – so keep checking in as more images will become available!

Below are a few images from the series to whet your appetite. Follow the link above to access all images in the series.

The sketches mostly relate to the following subjects: sketches and tracings of towns and villages and of extensions and alterations proposed thereto, sketches of allotments sold or granted to various persons. There are also sketches and tracings of land, the ownership of which was in dispute, or of encroachments on Crown lands, and of tracings of reserved roads through allotments, and of street alignments in towns. There are also tracings of land reserved for churches, schools, cemeteries and other public purposes.
description from Archives Investigator

[100] [Laings 20 acres at Watsons also houses and gradens to the south of it. Sketch book 1 folio 25] NRS13886X751_a110_000100.jpg

[83] Site for Court House by Butler and site now proposed – Hartley [Sketch book 3 folio 51] NRS13886X754_a110_000002.jpg

Plan of the allotments at and near Lower Portland Head shewing the situation of the 20 acres allowed to William and Margaret Callaghan for life [Sketch book 4 folio 17] NRS13886X755_a110_000029.jpg

Kensington to be sold by auction by Mr Stubbs [Sketch book 4 folio 68] NRS13886X756_a110_000015.jpg

As we commemorate ANZAC Day, a WWI related photographic mystery from the archives.

This studio photograph (NRS 214 c.1914-18), was found amongst old records at 10 Quay Street, Sydney. It had no identifying information accompanying it. The office at this address had been used for many years by meat inspectors employed on the Metropolitan Meat inspection circuit.

Of the two subjects in the photograph one appears to be a member of the Military whilst the other appears to be dressed in a civil uniform, including a cap with insignia.

Can anyone identify what type of military uniform the man on the right is wearing?

Perhaps even more challenging, can anyone identify the uniform worn by the man on the left? Given where the photograph was found, could it be a meat inspectors uniform?

What could be the significance of the two men being photographed together in their uniforms? What could be the relationship between the two men? Perhaps a father and son? So many questions!

Let us know what you think!

Whose up for another round of What’s the bigger picture? our guessing game using photographs from the State Records NSW collection.

Let’s hope this one tests the brain cells!

Where do you think this might be? What’s the bigger picture?!

Ashfield Park, Parramatta Rd, Ashfield

Series: NRS 20224 Photographs of metropolitan, country roads ferries etc., and miscellaneous operations, New South Wales

Digital ID: 20224_a038_001399