Rare Photographs of 16-Year-Old Nicole Kidman in Sydney, December 1983

Born Nicole Mary Kidman on June 20, 1967, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nicole Kidman is one of Hollywood's most beautiful and well-regarded leading female stars.

At age 4 she moved with her parents to Sydney, Australia. As a schoolgirl she attended a local theater group and, encouraged by director Jane Campion, made a notable film debut in Bush Christmas (1983). Kidman also met one of her best friends, actress Naomi Watts, around this time. The two were at an open call for a bathing-suit ad and later worked together on the 1991 film Flirting.

Here, the young actress poses in a promo shoot for her role in the teen caper BMX Bandits, showing off her natural redheaded curls.

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Fascinating Photographs Capture the Early Days of Surfing From Between the Late 1960s and Early 1970s

Surfing’s formative period from 1965 to 1978, as shown through the most complete book of the iconic images of photographer John Witzig.

Witzig was one of the first people to document Australian surf culture. He was not only photographing the scene, he was part of it, a group that included surfers Bob McTavish and George Greenough, and his images reflect both that access and that intimacy.

Witzig was shooting with the only waterproof camera at the time: Nikon’s Nikonos. The camera had a fixed 35-mm. lens and no automatic focus, meaning that it required both technical skills and proximity to the subjects.

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Linhof Technika trainee photographers of Australian Air Force at RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, ca. 1970s

24 Rare Vintage Pictures of Melbourne in the 1800s

Here is Melbourne in the 1800s through rare and amazing vintage photos.

Ballarat railway station, ca. 1800s

Bourke Street from Parliament House, 1885

Bourke Street, Melbourne, 1888

Corner of Collins and Russell Sts., Melbourne, 1879

Elizabeth Street, Melbourneca, 1800s

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37 Amazing Vintage Photographs That Show Street Scenes of Sydney, Australia in the Late 19th Century

Sydney was founded in 1788 when the first fleet arrived in Australia from England. The city grew at a phenomenal rate through the 19th century even though transportation to New South Wales ended in 1840. By 1861 the population of Sydney was 56,000 and it was a flourishing town. By 1881 the population of Sydney had grown to an amazing 221,000. Here, we present a gallery of amazing vintage photographs (via State Library of New South Wales) show everyday life in Sydney in the late 19th century.

King and Elizabeth Street corner from Sydney, 1890

An aviary from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Children in street from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Group of people from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Children in street from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

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15 Vintage Photographs of Architecture and Landscape in Sydney Before the 1900s

Here is a small vintage photo collection of architecture and landscape in Sydney before the 1900s.

Wynyard Square, ca. 1897

St Mary's Cathedral, ca. 1897

University of Sydney, ca. 1897

Sydney Town Hall, ca. 1897

General Post Office, ca. 1897

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Amazing Vintage Photos Show the Sydney Opera House While It Was Being Built From 1957–1973

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the facility formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition.

The Fort Macquarie Tram Depot, occupying the site at the time of these plans, was demolished in 1958 and construction began in March 1959. The Sydney Opera House was built in three stages: stage I (1959–1963) consisted of building the upper podium; stage II (1963–1967) the construction of the outer shells; stage III (1967–1973) interior design and construction.

1952. The tram shed at Bennelong Point Circular Quay before the Sydney Opera House was built.

Jan. 3, 1957. Judges review entries in the design competition for the new Sydney Opera House.

Dec. 30, 1958. The tram shed at Bennelong Point is demolished to make way for the construction of the Opera House.

Sept. 1, 1959. The site of the Opera House is prepared for construction.

June 20, 1960. Tradesmen working on the construction of the Sydney Opera House live in caravans on-site at Bennelong Point.

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A Soldier's Goodbye, With Bobby the Cat, Sydney, ca. 1942

We’re all familiar with photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt's V-J Day in Times Square in which a sailor returning from a victory in Japan is dipping and passionately kissing a young woman in Times Square. While it’s a fantastic and memorable photo, indicative of the patriotic passion, pride, and relief felt by Americans welcoming their victorious troops, it’s not the only one of its kind.

There are have been many photographic captures of soldiers smooching women upon arrival and departure, whether they be sweethearts or strangers. These interesting photos below were taken by photographer Sam Hood during World War II as an Australian solider said goodbye to his wife before leaving.

Motorcycle Chariots Celebrating New South Wales Police, Australia, 1936

The Tasman Bridge Disaster Occurred in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1975

The Tasman Bridge was open to traffic in August 1964 in Hobart, the capital city of Australia’s island state of Tasmania. It was a four-lane, high level concrete bridge constructed with a central navigation span for shipping. Prior to 1964, a floating bridge spanned the Derwent.

The Tasman Bridge disaster occurred in Hobart, Tasmania (Australia) on January 5, 1975. 12 people lost their lives; these cars left dangling over the edge were some of the lucky ones.

On Sunday, January 5, 1975 at 9.27 p.m. the bulk carrier Lake Illawarra collided with the Tasman Bridge. Two piers collapsed along with 127 meters of bridge decking. Four cars ran over the gap which fell 45m (150ft) into the Derwent River. Five occupants died while several others managed to escape from two vehicles which teetered on the edge of the gap. Seven crewmen from the Lake Illawarra also lost their lives.

The bulk carrier Lake Illawarra, carrying 10,000 tonnes of zinc ore concentrate, was heading up the Derwent River to offload its cargo at the Electrolytic Zinc Company in Risdon, upstream from Hobart and about 3 km from the bridge.

The ship was off course as it neared the bridge, partly due to the strong tidal current but also because of inattention by the ship's master, Captain Boleslaw Pelc. Initially approaching the bridge at eight knots, Pelc slowed the ship to a 'safe' speed. Although the Lake Illawarra was capable of passing through the bridge's central navigation span, the captain attempted to pass through one of the eastern spans.

The collapse of Tasman Bridge isolated two sides of the city which had heavily relied upon it for most daily activities. 30% of Hobart's residents lived on the eastern shore and were effectively isolated. The day after the incident, as some 30,000 residents set out for work, they found that the former three-minute commute over the bridge had turned into a ninety-minute trip.

Tasman Bridge disaster, January 1975

Tasman Bridge disaster, January 1975

The gap between the two pylons of the bridge seen in the light of day.

Murray Ling moves the car next to his back from the brink.

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Summer Under Southern Skies of Australia in the 1940s

These are beautiful vintage photos that show the life in southern Australia in the 1940s.

Relaxing under the summer sun in Townsville

Diving into Sydney Harbor under summer skies

Cooling down with an ice block under summer skies in New Zealand

Lifesaving test under summer skies

Splashing about under summer skies

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Wonderful Photographs of Australia of the Early 1960s

A collection of 40 wonderful color photographs of Australia of the early 1960s.

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30 Interesting Vintage Photos That Show Australian Fashions of the 1920s

Australian women before the War were quiet, polite and modest.

In the 1920s, women suddenly appeared sporting short skirts, short hairstyles, smoking, swearing and riding motorcycles.

Where had this new Australian woman come from? Once the soldiers had packed their sacks and hopped on the ships to fight the War in Europe, women emerged from their houses to fill the jobs left empty in support of the armed forces at home and abroad.

The movement from house to workforce which was made by many (but not all) Australian women, led to the birth of the new woman of the 1920s. Liberated by her experiences in the war, women worked and lived in the manner men had enjoyed for decades.

Gwen Caine of Bowen ready for a dancing recital. She is seen in her dancing costume, posing on pointe, ca. 1925.

Studio photograph of a bride and bridegroom with their bridesmaid and best man, ca. 1925. The bride and groom are posed behind a carved wooden stand, the bride's bouquet resting on the stand. The bridesmaid and best man are seated in front and to either side of the bridal couple. The bride and bridesmaid wear typical twenties style dresses and hats.

Models at a fashion parade at Finney Isles & Co., wearing a number of different styles of 1920s evening dresses which are loose-fitting around the bodice, and have low waist lines and uneven hemlines. The models are wearing rows of glass beads or pearls, made popular in the 1920s by French designer Gabrielle Chanel. Hairstyles include the 'bob' and 'shingled' styles which were popular in the late 1920s. The shingled hairstyle was 'cut short at the back and longer at each side, and artificially permed and set into waves' (information taken from: E. Owen, Fashion in photographs 1920-1940, 1993). The parade was held on 12 September 1929, in aid of the Creche and Kindergarten Association at Finney's.

Wedding of Drew and Marie Drynan at St. Stephens Cathedral, Brisbane, 14 August 1929.

Miss Katie Fitzgerald

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