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Farmhouse with slab hut in the mountains
Farmhouse with slab hut in the mountains

Farmhouse with slab hut in the mountains

Photographer (Australian, 1877 - 1951)
Date1890s
Object number00002305
NameGlass plate negative
MediumEmulsion on glass
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Bruce Stannard
DescriptionAustralian farmstead in the mountains, possible around Bowral, a timber slab hut with bark roof is behind the main house. Four men pose around a tree stump in the paddock near the rough hewn rail fence in the foreground.HistoryPhotographer William James Hall was born in Woolloomooloo, Sydney on 11 May 1877. His Australian-born mother, Caroline Asimus, later married William Frederick Hall, a butcher from England, in 1883. After a variety of occupations William Frederick Hall established a photographic studio in in 1890 in Phillip Street, Sydney. At an early age William James Hall joined his father in the photographic business, taking over the its operations in 1902. In August 1901 William James Hall married Alice Rosina Hopson in Bowral, and in 1904 he set up Hall & Co, a photographic business at 44 Hunter Street, Sydney. In his later career William James Hall became known as one of the best photographers of animals and was in great demand at Royal Sydney Show time. Survived by his second wife, Edith Hannah Gilkes, William James Hall died on 26 August 1951 at St Luke’s Hospital, Darlinghurst. A number of photographic studios were established by William F Hall and William J Hall. Known at different times as Hall studio, Hall & Co, W F Hall and Hall W the businesses were located variously at 7 Castlereagh Street, 39, 44 and 70 Hunter Street, 91 Phillip Street and 21 Blight Street in Sydney city from 1890 onwards.SignificanceThe Hall photographic collection provides an important pictorial record of life in Australia between the 1890s and 1930s. The images were created by father and son photographers William Frederick Hall and William James Hall, and mainly consist of Sydney Harbour and sailing scenes, however William J Hall also gained an excellent reputation for his landscapes and livestock photography.