A Moment in Time……
[Anna is helping with the Moments in Time series while Rhonda finishes her secondment in another section of State Records]
And they’re off! The horses are a blur but is there anything else in this image of Randwick Racecourse that can help us date this photo? The clothing and the buildings will hopefully hold the key to solving this Moment in Time.
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.
Category: -- Can you date...?
Robert Mills says:
Well another visual challenge !
As a first cut perhaps the image dates to the period 1910-12 as there appears to have been work undertaken during that time, including a new grandstand.
See SMH reference BUILDINGS AND WORKS. RANDWICK RACECOURSE IMPROVEMENTS. ANOTHER LARGE GRANDSTAND. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Tuesday 18 April 1911 p 10 Article.
Another large grandstand …..
Cheers
enno says:
I’ll be different and say 1920. Look at those women’s hats. And no puffy white blouses to be seen, compared to Hyde Park.
pellethepoet says:
What a stunning photo. The blur is magnificent!
Don’t forget to examine the other possibly related photos in the series for clues –
4481_a026_000010, Panorama from the infield – 4481_a026_000012, 4481_a026_000011, Panorama from the grandstand – 4481_a026_000013, 4481_a026_000014
[now beachcomberaustralia don’t get too excited …]
I think by the fashion this photo is actually earlier (late 1890s-early 1900s), and also that the grandstand that is depicted in the foreground is the original Members Stand (or Official Stand) that burnt down and was replaced in 1910. Compare with this Kerry photo –
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=28446 and also see the notes about how they dated their photograph to 1884-1910.
Anna Gray says:
It sounds as though pre-1910 is the front-runner so far!
Another c.1900-1910 image of Randwick Racecourse can be found in this collection of images held at the State Library:
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/discover_collections/society_art/races/randwick/racing.html
beachcomberaustralia says:
I reckon it is earler – 1883-89. See notes and comments on Flickr.
pellethepoet says:
I hereby officially revise my date estimation and second the reckoning of beachcomberaustralia. :)
beachcomberaustralia says:
[apologies for typo – “earlier”]
One of the more interesting things I have come across in research was –
” In 1863, the Randwick land was granted by the Crown to trustees representing the Australian Jockey Club for an annual rental of “one black peppercorn payable on demand”. ”
from http://www.racecourse-info.com/australia-horse-racing/randwick-racecourse.html
@Anna Gray- that State Library site is excellent. Their 1914 panorama (ugh!) shows much more development in Randwick than the companion photos to this one, linked by pellethepoet.
enno says:
a lot of the date estimates on those photos are pretty vague. 1884-1910 ? 1925-1950 ?
anita says:
may be from 70s o.O?