Comments on: Can you date this photograph? [Causeway at Audley, Royal National Park]

By: Rhonda Campbell

Rhonda Campbell — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:41:01 +0000

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

By: Robert Heal

Robert Heal — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:50:42 +0000

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.

By: Fiona Sullivan

Fiona Sullivan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:03:32 +0000

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?

By: Judith Carrick

Judith Carrick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:58:47 +0000

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This information comes from my unpublished history of Royal National Park.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:41:13 +0000

Anthea,
Happy for you to duplicate on Flickr, glad my vintage car knowledge has come in handy.

By: Anthea Brown

Anthea Brown — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:42:06 +0000

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!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:25:30 +0000

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.

By: Wal Pilz

Wal Pilz — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:43:44 +0000

My guess would be early 1940′s based on the look of the ute.

By: Anthea Brown

Anthea Brown — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:09:55 +0000

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!

By: Mick Reed

Mick Reed — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:34:28 +0000

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