Can you date this photograph? [Causeway at Audley, Royal National Park]
Posted on September 21, 2009 by Rhonda Campbell
A moment in time……
Thanks to all our readers who helped us date the first photograph in our new blog series! With your generous help we have been able to establish a c. 1904 date.
Below is a wonderful image of people enjoying a day out at Audley in the Royal National Park. The cars in the photograph take you back to another era….but which era is it?
This is the second post in our ‘moment in time’ series. Please help us date this photograph. Click the image below to view a larger version.
[UPDATE: Larger version of image can be found here on our Flickr photostream]
Cars crossing the Causeway at Audley, Royal National Park
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.
Also of interest:
Comments (17)
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Legible signage, modes of dress and motor car models will give the best clues as to date. This version is not large enough to see any signage nor detail of mode of dress.
Cars however give some information. There are four cars.
From left to right, the 1st and 3rd cars are of a simlar vintage, late teens to early 1930s. The 2nd and 4th cars are of a later design type, shere a sleeker style was used.
The 4th car is a utility or pick-up type.
The 2nd car is likely an import from the United States, perhaps a Chevrolet or a Packard. It looks to be a late 1930s design to me.
There have also been some changes above the shoreline between the causeway and the major buildings, as can be seen by comparing this photo to another taken from the same spot by Frank Hurley:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an23383196
Those are the clues so far …
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Emily Hummel, State Records NSW and State Records NSW. State Records NSW said: Archives Outside: Can you date this photograph? http://tinyurl.com/mbe8sc [...]
Hi Bob,
Thanks for adding the link to the NAA photo. Looks like it was taken from the exact same spot!
I have uploaded a large version of this image to our Flickr account which will hopefully show more detail and help with the mystery.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/3942088361/
Hi Bob
I thought the cars would be our best clue to dating the photograph. I will be waiting to see if the larger version gives you a better idea of makes and models.
By the vintage of the two “rounded” cars on the causeway at Audley, including the Utility, I would estimate the year this photo was taken would be c.1936-37.
Thanks for your comments, James. We definitely seem to be heading towards the 1930s with this one.
Bob Meade (see first comment) has also added a note to the Flickr version of this image pointing out Allambie House.
[Comment from Flickr photostream] Looks like the first and third cars from the left are Ford Model As – though Australian Ford plants tended to deviate from regular bodies, but these seem similar. here’s a link to a 1930 Australian Ford Model A, looks spot on.
That puts the picture to at least post 1927, probably later.
Fashion-wise, it’s hard to tell, but I’d hazard a guess that it’s in the 30s, though with those hats on the women in the middle, maybe a smidge later? I’m not sure how much Australian fashion differed from English & American, so I hesitate to date.
Hope this helps!
(as to the above, knowing the name of that house *does* date the photograph! we can find out when Allambie was torn down and date from there…)
I think Allambie burnt down around 1970ish so that doesn’t really help.
I wouldn’t stake my life on this, but from the length and angle of the shadows, this was taken about 10.45 am in around 30th Oct to 3rd Nov in 1937. It’s presumably a weekend because of all the people around so 30th or 31st October, unless loads of people took Melbourne Cup day off.
If you want explore this further, try:
Levi, JA, Determining the time and day of photography, Journal of Forensic Sciences, Volume 45, Issue 1 (January 2000)
and
Colleen Fitzpatrick, Forensic Gnealogy, Fountain Valley, CA: Rice Book Press, 2005.
ISBN 0-9767160-03, 219 pp.
Cheers
Mick
Thanks for including those references, Mick; I find it fascinating that photographs can be dated in this way. You may be interested in this blog post by William Oates (University Archivist at the Heritage Centre, University of New England) called Using Shadows To Date Photographs.
You have provided some useful clues, thank you!
My guess would be early 1940′s based on the look of the ute.
The cars are from late 1920s to 1939, and vehicles from all those years were common enough on the roads until the 1960s, so maybe the fashion experts can narrow it for you.
Left to right:
Car 1 – the straight up and down windscreen pillar and rear sedan tub indicates most likely to be 1926-1928 US make of smaller sedan –Chev, Essex, Buick, Oldsmobile maybe but without more detail of the radiator and headlamps could be an example of at least 20 different models in those years.
Car 2 – again an American-origin sedan of the mid 1930s no later than 1938, note the shape of the rear mudguard and the ‘bustle-style” boot, consider 1937 Buick, 1938 Chev, 1938 Pontiac
Car 3 – another American-origin sedan, 1929-1930, probably a Nash, or a Hudson, but also consider a 5 passenger Studebaker or La Salle – definitely not a Ford Model A
Car 4 – is a classic Australian-style coupe utility from just before WW2. Might be a 1939-40 Chev. Ford coupe utes had a ¾ rear window at this time – the ute in photo looking more like a Holden body.
Jenny,
This extra car info is wonderful. Do you mind if I duplicate this information on the Flickr version? There is a such a strong community knowledge-base surrounding this image.
Looks like we may have to find some fashion experts!
Anthea,
Happy for you to duplicate on Flickr, glad my vintage car knowledge has come in handy.
I believe this photo was taken on June 29th 1951.
“A new causeway was constructed in 1950 and dedicated on June 29th 1951 by J.J. Cahill (Premier of NSW 1952-1959) who was a member of the Trust from 1931 and Chairman from 1949-1959) and J.M. Main (Director of Public Works); a memorial stands at the northern end of the causeway. City Water was connected at this time also.”
Reference:- Audley Draft Masterplan 2004, pp 171,172
If it is in the 1930′s then it could be:
“A new boatshed (with 264 boats for hire) was erected commemorating 150 years since settlement. Previously on lease to H.C. Press, the Trust now decided to build and operate the facility themselves. It was officially opened by the Minister of Lands, the Honorable C.A. Sinclair on October, 22nd 1938 and was said to be, at the time, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.”
References: National Park T rust Minutes, August 4th, 1938, National Trust Report June 30th, 1938, Stanley, p58
This information comes from my unpublished history of Royal National Park.
Judith, thanks for taking the time to share your research. This detailed information is great. The car models dictate the earliest possible date for the photograph but I’m not sure there is anything in the photograph that limits the end date. Maybe 1951 is possible?
The trees on the river bank behind the weir appear to be newly planted.
The second car on the road is unlikely to be earlier than 1937.
This one kept us guessing for awhile and it seems that the late 1930′s is as close as we will get. Thank you to everyone who added very informative comments