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Two 18-footers sailing on Sydney Harbour, ONDA in foreground.

Photographer William James Hall (Australian, 1877 - 1951)

Date1924-1925

Object number00002017

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

DimensionsOverall: 125 x 162 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bruce Stannard

Terms

Sydney Harbour

DescriptionImage by William Hall of 18 footers sailing on Sydney Harbour, ONDA with quartered diamond insignia in foreground, Pastime with horseshoe, LIFESAVER with ring. Date range 1923-1927. Previous researcher narrowed it down to 1924-1925, provenance unknown (IS). HistoryIn addition to being an ideal working harbour, Sydney Harbour soon proved to European settlers to be an ideal reactional waterway. From the from the 1830s races and regattas were held on the harbour, pulling large crowds of spectators onshore and later on paying passenger vessels. The large billowing sails with distinct designs made for easy identification and speed while the constant threat of capsizing added an element of excitement to the sport. Traditionally viewed as a working class sport, born in harbour suburbs such as Balmain and Pyrmont, open boats used large crews acting as ‘live ballast’ and were relatively inexpensive to build. Racing also gained attention of middle and upper classes who partook of the strong betting culture and social activities that grew up around Sydney racing. William Hall was a photographer based in Sydney and was a regular at the weekend races taking photographs of the day’s events. Each Monday morning in his shop window, Hall would display the photographs he had taken of the weekend races. The shopfront became a part of Sydney yachting life as people filed past, vying to view the images and dissect the weekend’s activities.SignificanceThe Hall photographic collection provides an important pictorial record of recreational boating in Sydney Harbour from the 1890s to the 1930s. The collection documents the lively sailing scene in Sydney during this period and features images of vessels ranging from large racing and cruising yachts to the great array of skiffs and the emerging technologies of motorboats. Images of the many spectators and crowds who supported and followed the sailing races are also included in this visual record.