Can you date this photograph? [Kiosk at Central Railway Station]
Posted on October 5, 2009 by Rhonda Campbell
A moment in time……
This is a photograph from the State Rail Authority Archives Photographic Reference Print Collection. It’s nice to see what Central Station looked without all the modern fast food outlets and hurrying crowds. We would like to know if this is the country train terminal and what year it would be?
Larger version is available on our Flickr photostream
- Kiosk at Central Railway Station
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 (7)
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From the lady’s outfit it looks to be in the 1920s The posters in the background may give some clues. But 1/6 for an ice block?!!!!!!!
Thanks Angela, I’m guessing that at that price in the 1920’s or 1930’s it was a very special ice cream block!
Can’t accurately date the photo, but the headwear of the gentlemen suggests the 1920s or 1930s.
The location is the eastern end of the country platforms (platform 10 would be behind the stall.) This food outlet was definitely still here in approximately the same state in the late 1950s when I first remember taking the Glen Innes Mail from platform 9 or so.
Thanks for the information on the headwear Michael. This one may be a bit tricky to narrow down further. The thing that strikes me the most when I look at this photo is how few people are occupying the space compared with today!
I conferred with my older brother who is a long-time railway employee and train nut. He advises the following:
“The photo is of the ice cream stand located on the main country concourse at Central between the indicator boards and the on board catering supply store (now the indicator screens and the station manager’s office). From memory the photograph was taken in 1923, (not my personal memory, I have seen it published with a date included). Behind (as in at the opposite end to the photographer) would have been a passageway leading to the “Bankstown platforms” i.e platforms 10 to 18, later reduced to 10 to 15 when the lines to the city were opened as high level platforms, (the way they are now). “
Much thanks to you and your brother for filling in some of the details Geoff.
Thank you for all the comments on the ice-cream stand at Central Station. I think we will enter the date as being in the decade of the 1920’s. I just wish it was still at Central Station!