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Black and white negative strip including two images of a bridge over the Brisbane River which is in flood

Photographer John Cameron

Photographer Poul C Poulsen

DateFebruary 1896

Object number00048191

NameNegative

MediumCellulose acetate negative, black and white

DimensionsOverall: 93 x 60 mm
Image: 41 x 55 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Arlene Hope

Terms

DescriptionBlack and white 120 format film strip negative with two images. The top image depicts Victoria Bridge over the Brisbane River in February 1896. The bank of the river is covered in strewn peices of wood. The Victoria Bridge suffered extensive damage during the February 1893 floods and a temporary wooden extension was built and opened in September of the same year. Another flood in 1896, however, threatened to destroy the wooden section of the bridge so workers were called to clear the debris. By 15 February 1896, the bridge was declared safe, however, piles had been broken causing the bridge to sag. The bottom image is of a different bridge which has had the barrier damaged in the middle. One of the street lights is bent. The old Treasury builiding is on the left hand side of the image and the river bank visible in the bottom of the image is covered in debris. On one edge of the negative is written Kodak PXP 6057. 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.HistoryPart of a 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.