A moment in time……
With summer just around the corner I thought it would be good to show you my favourite photograph in our collection. It shows the innocence and enjoyment of a lifestyle that has now been by passed my modern living. Below you see families together enjoying the outdoors without iPods, mobile phones and playstations.
This is part of our ‘moment in time’ series in which we ask you to help us date the photograph. Perhaps the vintage of the swimsuits will provide the answer?
[Larger size image available on our Flickr photostream]
Summertime at Norieul Park on the banks of the Murray River, Albury
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.
Anthea Brown says:
Going from the pictures on this website the swimsuits look very 1950s
John Billing says:
50’s maybe, but I tend to think more late 60’s by the hair styles. Being country folk too, they may have been a bit more conservative – hence the swimming costumes.
Fiona Sullivan says:
John I think this one may be a little tricky to narrow down so 50’s/60’s seems likely, thanks.
Rhonda Cetta-Hoye says:
I also agree that these costumes are the late 40’s early 50’s , boy leg style and a front shirt were the norm for both men and women.
Hairstyles are late 40’s through the 50’s boufont styles arrived early 60’s.
Fiona Sullivan says:
Thanks Rhonda, I’m no expert on millinery but the one hat in the photograph also looks more 50’s than 60’s to me. It’s interesting that no one other than the children seems to be there for the swimming!
Megan Phelps says:
It’s interesting to make a comparison with a photograph of Wagga Beach on the Murrumbidgee River in 1963:
http://waggalocalhistory.wetpaint.com/page/Wagga+Beach
From the slightly more formal dress in the Norieul Park photograph I would place it as earlier, but the detail is difficult to compare.
Fiona Sullivan says:
Megan, this is very helpful thankyou. We always felt this photograph would be tricky to date because there were no structures etc. for comparative purposes which would make pinning down an exact timeframe more straight forward!
Rhonda Cetta-Hoye says:
My previous note should read ” front skirt ” not shirt, sorry
The man’s shoe in bottom right hand corner also is about the 1940’s early 1950’s
Cosume manafacturer I remember was Janzen or Jensen
with the little diver on the front left hand side.
Regards Rhonda
Fiona Sullivan says:
Thanks Rhonda, every little bit helps!
Ross Clark says:
My family and I grew up in the area and my Grandparents grew up going to Noreuil Park all the time i thought I would see if they knew and this was their resonse:
“I had a chat to grandma, she said the photo was late 1950s and I said early 1950, cos that little life guard stand was not there when we were kids before I met grandma. Gee it brings back some memories though. We practically lived there as kids. Our mum would give us the money to get into the Baths and we would go to Norieuil Park, swim in the river and spend our Baths money on an icecream. Thanks for sending it. Will catch you later. Love Grampa
P.S. Note the correct spelling above. The photo article spelled it wrong.
Rhonda Campbell says:
Hi Ross, thank you so much for the lovely family reminiscences about Norieuil Park. It sounds like it was a wonderful place to spend a childhood. It is one of my favourite photographs in our collection.
Also apologises for the incorrect spelling. We have now fixed this.
Willeen Logan says:
The woman seated in the distance to the right is wearing a check shirt (blouse as it was called then). Check blouses were common in the 50s. The women’s hairstyles look very 1950s, also the style of the swimsuits.
The 1960s fashion was hairstyles with height and one piece swimsuits had higher cut legs.
neale says:
The black and white wingtip shoe at the bottom right is also a very “period” piece of footwear. It would suggest early 50’s.
Rhonda Campbell says:
Thank you to everyone who commented on the photograph. It’s been interesting reading about all the styles of swimsuits, hats, shoes and hairstyles and how they help date a photograph. From all the comments I think we can put the date at c.1950.
A particular thanks to Ross Clark who shared a wonderful family story with us.
Helen says:
This picture appeared in an undated Oswald Ziegler Publication, entitled Albury, produced by Oswald L. Ziegler, 310 George St, Sydney. Design by Gert Sellheim. Narration by Eve Keane. Albury Photographs by H. Chargois, F.R.P.S., and P.J. Mangan. Printed by W.E. Smith Ltd, 310 George St, Sydney. The text indicates it was 125 years after Hume & Hovell reached the area (1824), and quotes wool sales figures for year ending 30th June, 1949.