A glimpse of what life was like in Sydney post-war years
George St was bustling with young couples. Martin Place was crawling with folk wearing their finest suits and dresses and servicemen and women were playing with kids in Hyde Park. This is what life was like and 80 street photographers captured it all between 1930 and 1950.
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George Street was bustling with young couples.
Martin Place was crawling with country folk wearing their finest suits and dresses for a day out in town. Servicemen and women were playing with their children in Hyde Park.
And up to 80 street photographers were camped out around Sydney’s CBD to capture it all through a lens.
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The Museum of Sydney’s unique exhibition ‘Street Photography’ features hundreds of photographs taken by these Sydney-based snappers between 1930 and 1950.
More than 1500 photographs were submitted for inclusion by the public and exhibition curator Anna Cossu had the difficult task of selecting just 250. According to Ms Cossu, the street photo fad offers an unexpected glimpse into the Australian way of life during war time and the Great Depression.
Life in Sydney in black and white
“Street photography was totally democratic. The photographers captured ordinary moments in everyday people’s lives,” she said.
“Many photos of children and women were sent to men fighting overseas in the war, and were the only way servicemen could watch their children grow up … many of the photos we received were the last pictures ever to be taken of their loved ones.”
Also included in the exhibition is a selection of recreated street photos, featuring the descendants of the original subjects posing in similar locations.
“There’s something in it for everyone. You’ll enjoy the amazing fashions of the periods, there are great pictures of kids playing with toys. You might even spot someone you know in one of the pictures,” Ms Cossu said.
‘Street Photography’ opens at the Museum of Sydney on Saturday, December 8.
Originally published as A glimpse of what life was like in Sydney post-war years
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