Black and white negative strip with four images of Brisbane street scenes
Photographer
John Cameron
Photographer
Poul C Poulsen
Datec 1893
Object number00048198
NameNegative
MediumCellulose acetate negative, black and white
DimensionsOverall: 181 x 61 mm
Image: 41 x 55 mm
Image: 41 x 55 mm
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Arlene Hope
DescriptionBlack and white 120 format film negative strip with four images.
The top image is of a flooded street in Brisbane. There is a horse drawn buggy in the middle of the street with three men standing on it. There are two men standing in front of the horse, waist deep in water. Buildings on either side of the road include businesses titled: Warren & Co., Warehousemen, Hertzbe..., Prosser, Ta[?] and Co., Importers, Wholesalers, Druggists. In the bottom right hand corner is written P.C.Poulsen.
The second image is of a flooded street with a three story brick building in the centre of the image with many men standing on the first story window sills and several men standing on a punt at the front door. The building is signed Elliot Brothers Limited, Wholesale druggists. Beside it is a smaller corrugated iron building belonging to Hipwood Bros, Copper smiths, Manufacturers of distilling, Brewing and Sugar[?]. In the bottom left hand corner is written P.C.Poulsen.
The third image is a heightened view of Bourbong Street, Bundaberg, taken from the Bundaberg Post Office tower. The road is very muddy and there are several people walking along. Buildings identified include: W E Curtis, an Ironmonger, and J&H Nash Pharmaceutical Chemist.
The bottom image is of a parade. There is a band in uniform, followed by many other men in the same uniform, wearing white helmets. There are men walking down the footpath and a horse and buggy in the front.
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.
John Cameron
1890-1893