Images(2)

Brisbane and Sydney

Photographer John Cameron

Photographer Poul C Poulsen

Date1890-1930

Object number00048193

NameNegative

MediumCellulose acetate negative, black and white

DimensionsOverall: 181 x 61 mm
Image: 41 x 55 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Arlene Hope

Terms

DescriptionBlack and white 120 format film negative strip with four images. The first image was probably taken from Parliament House in Brisbane, looking across the Brisbane River towards South Brisbane. In the foreground is William Street and the damaged Victoria Bridge is also in view. There are ships anchored and in the background are other submerged buildings and a line of mountains behind. In the bottom right hand corner of the image is written 'P.C. Poulson Photo'. The second image depicts Kangaroo Point taken from the cliffs above the Brisbane River at New Farm. There are six boats going up the river with several small vessels in among them. The rest of the city can be seen on the other side of the river. The third photograph depicts the Orient liner AUSTRAL, almost sunk. All that can be seen are the tops of the masts and many small life boats beside it. In the background are two other vessels. In the foreground is a steam powered vessel towing a dinghy. The vessel sank while loading coal in Neutral Bay in 1882 with the loss of five lives. AUSTRAL was sucessfully refloated and went on to make the round trip from England to Australia for the next 22 years. The photograph was taken by John Cameron from an original glass plate taken by P C Poulsen from a collection of photographic negatives of original glass plate images from the 1890s-1930s. Many are signed P C Poulsen. Most are from images taken of the 1893 Brisbane floods.HistoryA collection of photographic negatives of original glass plate images from the 1890s-1930s. Many are signed P C Poulsen. Some later aerial shots may also be from the Poulsen studio. Many of the images show Brisbane City under water from the swollen Brisbane River. They include; the sunken TOONDA RAJAH near Pettigrew, sailing boats on Brisbane River, stone quarrying, Edward street Brisbane with floodwaters, 'S B Cemetery and Fairfield', Pettigrew's Mill, 'S B from North Quay' (South Bank?), Queen Street, 'From North Quay', 'Creek St'. Several ships are reportedly 'Kanak' ships including the RODERICK DHU. Poul C Poulson was a well known photographic studio in firstly, Adelaide, then Newcastle and the in Queensland between 1894 and 1898. 1883 - 23 King William Street, Adelaide, American Studio, late Allen & Gore 1884-1885 Hunter Street, Newcastle, New South Wales 1885-1900 7 Queen Street, Brisbane 1894-1898 Mary Street, Gympie, Queensland 1889 Gladstone Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland 1893 George Street, Brisbane 1898 Kent Street, Maryborough, Queensland 1898 Adelaide Street, Maryborough, Queensland Poul Poulsen founded Poulson studios. He was born in Denmark in 1857 and arrived in Sydney in 1876. In 1882, he moved to Queensland and was later joined by his sisters and brothers from Denmark. He opened his own studio at no 7 Queen Street in 1885 and later opened branches, run by his brothers in other Queensland towns. Poulsen vigorously advertised constant improvements and modernisation in his studio and in the service he provided. His sons and grandson followed in his footsteps. SignificanceThe images present an excellent documentation of the swollen Brisbane River, streetscapes of Brisbane in flood, and damage to the waterfront and shipping.