This is a great photo showing the equality of man and beast in the face of the summer heat! It is an unidentified image from an unidentified collection at the University of New England and Regional Archives (UNERA). However all is not lost! The stock brand on the horse could be a handy clue. After scanning the photograph staff at UNERA have been able to zoom in on the brand.   Series such as State Records NRS120 Large Stock Brand Directories of New South Wales may be used to identify the brand.  The Series Description notes:

The New South Wales Act to provide for the Registration of Brands was assented to on 5 October 1866. The Act required the New South Wales Registrar General, in his capacity as Registrar of Brands, to prepare a quarterly report, for publication in the Government Gazette, of brands registered during the preceding quarter and to publish an annual Brand Directory “containing a correct and complete list of all brands and of the names and residences of their respective proprietors”.

The catch? The above register is arranged alphabetically by brand which makes it tricky to search. It is also likely that this photo was taken in the border country so the horse could be from Queensland, New South Wales or another State entirely.

Fiona Sullivan and William Oates