Photos of the Grand Prix at Bathurst, New South Wales in 1946

In October 1946, the New South Wales 100-mile Grand Prix motor race was run at Bathurst, attracting a field of 32 cars, including five from Victoria and two from Queensland. On the day, around 30,000 people turned out for the race which was won by AS Najar of Sydney, with JP Hind in second place and AV Johnson third. This was a spectacular win for the first-time entrant, who drove a modified standard touring model MG, with a specially built monoposto (single-seater) body, shaped to fit the driver.

The over-1500cc handicap was won by F Kleinig, driving a Hudson Special. WB Murray, also driving a Hudson Special, crossed the line in second place. The track took its toll on the cars, with five of the 15 starters retiring with engine trouble.

Apparently the race also marked the first time a female driver, Joan Richmond, competed in the event. She was behind the wheel of a Q-Type MG fitted with a super-charged engine. Unfortunately, there are no recorded photographs in this collection from State Library of New South Wales.

John Crouch in a Delahaye 135 followed by Alby Johnson in a an MG TC, Grand Prix, Bathurst, October 1946

Alf Najar in an MG TB racing car, Grand Prix, Bathurst, October 1946

Alf Najar, Grand Prix winner at Bathurst, October 1946

Belf Jones in a Buick Special in front of Bill MacLachlan in a modified MG TA, Grand Prix, Bathurst, October 1946

Bill Conoulty and his Austin 7 Comet, Grand Prix, Bathurst, October 1946

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Bohemian Sydney Through Brian Bird’s Lens

From the late 19th century to the early 1970s, there was a distinctive bohemian subculture in Sydney. Alternative thinkers gathered in private houses, clubs and coffee houses. Some of the best known bohemian hangouts were Kings Cross and the area around Rowe Street (demolished in the 1970s to make way for the MLC Centre).

One of these Rowe Street cafes, the Lincoln Coffee Lounge, is considered the birthplace of the “Sydney Push” movement in its early days, just after the war. A popular meeting place for artists and writers, it comprised a mixture of university students, lecturers, Bohemians & Libertarians.

These fascinating photos from State Library of New South Wales were taken by Brian Bird that show Bohemian life in Sydney around 1948 and 1951.

‘Johnno’ Robert Johnson; unknown from Lincoln Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Rowe Street, Sydney, 1948-1951

Anne Barrett from Lincoln Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Rowe Street, Sydney, 1948-1951

Dick Gooding (on right of door) from Lincoln Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Rowe Street, Sydney, 1948-1951

Dick Gooding, journalist from Lincoln Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Rowe Street, Sydney, 1948-1951

Ede Cohen (usually on cash register); or Martin Edie from Lincoln Coffee Lounge & Cafe, Rowe Street, Sydney, 1948-1951

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Beautiful Photos of the Jenolan Caves around 1900

The Jenolan Caves are limestone caves located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Blue Mountains, in Jenolan, Oberon Council, New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The caves and 3,083-hectare (7,620-acre) reserve are situated approximately 175 kilometers (109 mi) west of Sydney, 20 kilometers (12 mi) east of Oberon and 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of Katoomba (74 kilometers (46 mi) by road). Dating back to 340million years ago, it is the oldest known and dated open cave system in the world.

The caves are the most visited of several similar groups in the limestone caves of the country, and the most ancient discovered open caves in the world. They include numerous Silurian marine fossils and the calcite formations, sometimes pure white, are noted for their beauty. The cave network follows the course of a subterranean section of the Jenolan River. It has more than 40 kilometers (25 mi) of multi-level passages and over 300 entrances. The complex is still being explored. The caves are a tourist destination, with eleven illuminated show caves open to paying visitors.

The caves and conservation reserve are one of the eight protected areas that was inscribed in 2000 to form part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. Here below is a set of beautiful photos from Powerhouse Museum that shows the Jenolan Caves around 1900.

'The Garden Palace', Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

'Madonna', Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

'Architect's Studio', Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

'Architect's Studio', Left Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Cave Road, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

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Amazing Photos of Beaches in New South Wales Around 1900

New South Wales is a state on the east coast of Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria to the south, and South Australia to the west. Its coast borders the Coral and Tasman Seas to the east. The Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are enclaves within the state. New South Wales’ state capital is Sydney, which is also Australia’s most populous city.

In the early 1900s, many beaches in New South Wales were already popular destinations, though perhaps not as developed as they are today. Places like Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, and Manly Beach were starting to attract visitors for swimming and seaside activities. However, the infrastructure and amenities were likely more basic compared to what we see today.

Here below is a set of amazing photos from Powerhouse Museum that shows beaches in New South Wales around 1900.

Bondi Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, circa 1900s

Cathedral Rock, Kiama, Sydney, New South Wales, circa 1900s

A bit of the Illawarra Coast, New South Wales, circa 1900s

Coogee Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, circa 1900s

Coogee Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, circa 1900s

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30 Fascinating Photos of the Blue Mountains Around 1900

The Blue Mountains are a mountainous region and a mountain range located in New South Wales, Australia. The region borders on Sydney's metropolitan area, its foothills starting about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of centre of the state capital, close to Penrith on the outskirts of Greater Sydney region.

As defined in 1970, the Blue Mountains region is bounded by the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers in the east, the Coxs River and Lake Burragorang to the west and south, and the Wolgan and Colo rivers to the north. Geologically, it is situated in the central parts of the Sydney Basin.

The Blue Mountains Range comprises a range of mountains, plateau escarpments extending off the Great Dividing Range about 4.8 kilometers (3.0 mi) northwest of Wolgan Gap in a generally southeasterly direction for about 96 kilometers (60 mi), terminating at Emu Plains. For about two-thirds of its length it is traversed by the Great Western Highway, the Main Western railway line and the soon to be completed, Blue Mountains tunnel. Several established towns are situated on its heights, including Katoomba, Blackheath, Mount Victoria, and Springwood. The range forms the watershed between Coxs River to the south and the Grose and Wolgan rivers to the north. The range contains the Explorer Range and the Bell Range.

The Blue Mountains area includes the local government area of the City of Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands Basalt Forests is a prominent forest community within the ecoregion. Here is a set of fascinating photos from Powerhouse Museum that shows what Blue Mountains looked like around 1900.

A Lookout, Katoomba, New South Wales, circa 1900

Blue Mountains Scenery, Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, circa 1900

Breakfast Point, Wentworth, New South Wales, circa 1900

Bridal Falls, Leura, New South Wales, circa 1900

Caves House, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

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35 Candid and Stylish Mugshots From the Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties was a golden era for criminals when rapid societal change led to the opening up of new illicit markets for entrepreneurial felons. Fast times bred new crimes creating policing challenges ranging from reckless joyriders to the emergence of the Mafia and razor gangs.

Hampton Hirscham, Cornellius Joseph Keevil, William Thomas O’Brien & James O’Brien, 1921

New South Wales Police Department photographers captured the zeitgeist of the era in these unexpectedly candid mug shots of cocaine sellers and addicts, sly-grog purveyors and small-time criminals, who frequented the cells of the Central Police Station in Sydney.

Herbert Ellis, 1920

William Frederick Long, circa 1920

Eugenia Falleni, 1920

Gilbert Cochrane Burleigh & Joseph Delaney, 1920

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Three Women on Skis, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales, ca. 1900

A little shorter than most skirts of the period, ca. 1900, these three women skiing in New South Wales are fashionably dressed for skiing in a socially acceptable manner. It looks as though they may have some form of bloomers or pants under their skirts which may have been both for modesty purposes as well as for warmth.

(Photo by Charles Henry / National Library of Australia)

30 Vintage Photos Capture Albury Houses in the 1940s

Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the Hume Highway and the northern side of the Murray River. Albury is the seat of local government for the council area which also bears the city’s name – the City of Albury.

Albury is separated from its twin city in Victoria, Wodonga, by the Murray River. It is 554 kilometres (344 mi) from the state capital Sydney and 326 kilometres (203 mi) from the Victorian capital Melbourne.

Said to be named after a village in England, Albury developed as a major transport link between New South Wales and Victoria and was proclaimed a city in 1946.

Here below is a set of vintage photos from Foto Supplies that shows houses in Albury in the 1940s.

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32 Amazing Found Photos Show Australian Post Offices in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

A cool set of found photos from NSW State Archives that shows what New South Wales post offices looked like from between the 1880s and early 1900s.

Adamstown Post Office

Adamstown Post Office

Albury Post and Telegraph Office

Annandale Post Office

Balmain Post Office and Court House

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WWI Australian Soldiers – 58 Vintage Photos of New South Wales Servicemen Portraits in 1918

Here is a vintage photo collection of New South Wales servicemen portraits from the First World War. They were born before 1900 and enlisted in 1918.

These photos are from "Crown Studios' New South Wales officers and men of the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) and the Australian Naval Forces".

Albert Edward Hawkins, born 1898

Albert Stephen Furness, born 1899

Alfred Andrew Hamilton, born 1899

Angus Ralph Anderson, born 1899

Archibald Strahan, born 1899

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Motorcycle Chariots Celebrating New South Wales Police, Australia, 1936