Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/610458. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Photographer: Edwards, Roy 
Title given by Territory Stories manager.

Description:
Photos from an album of mixed work and relaxation photos taken by Roy Edwards in NT in the 1920s.

In this collection of photographs, several rare coloured images are featured. It's unclear whether they are authentic colour photographs or hand-painted, but for their time, they are remarkably well done.

There's extensive information available about colour photography in Australia, which you can explore through resources like this linked page: [Shades of Light: Colour Photography in Australia](https://www.photo-web.com.au/ShadesofLight/15-colour.htm)

Posted 13-Mar-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+10125 Approximately 1870
Part of Darwin Collection

Jonathan Gore 29-Aug-2024
Thank you for welcoming me to your group. My GG Grand Father, Alfred Gore Snr came up to Darwin from Adelaide in 1872 and started a store on Mitchell Street called "Gore & Co". Three of his sons and a daughter came up with him and were pioneers of the area. There is a SLSA photograph (Ref B10125) of his store if someone from the group would like to colourise, I would be very grateful. Am I allowed to make requests?

Don 31-Aug-2024: Job Done.

Posted 31-Aug-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Jeffrey Fong via MAGNT

Three unidentified young women are pictured at a Darwin beach, circa 1920, in a photograph possibly taken by Robert Monteith. The girl in the middle appears in many of Robert's photos. Who could she be?

Don:
Robert Monteith was a prolific Darwin photographer, possibly employed by the British Australia Telegraph company (BAT). He captured many photos between 1910 and 1934, and this same unidentified young woman appears frequently. She might be a relative or perhaps a close friend.

Though Robert is mentioned in local press coverage of Darwin’s football and tennis teams, details about him remain sparse. I’d love to learn more about his life and work.

Three unidentified young ladies pictured at a Darwin Beach Circa 1920. Image possibly taken by photographer Robert Monteith. Girl in the middle appears in many of Robert's photos. Who is she?

Don:
Robert Monteith was a prolific Darwin photographer who may have worked for the British Australia Telegraph company (BAT). He has taken many photos from around 1910 to 1934 and a lot of these include the same young unidentified lady. She may be family or possibly a friend.

Robert gets a mention in Darwin's football and tennis teams in the local press, but no real details are given.
I would love to learn more about him.

Image Source: Jeffrey Fong via MAGNT. Jeffrey brought this to my attention, and as it appeared at MAGNT, I felt we had a good chance of identifying this young lady.

I did a Google Lens search and found only one occurrence of this image.
https://lifeimagesbyjill.blogspot.com/2019/09/half-lap-of-australia.html

Most of his photos are listed in this collection:
https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/?collection=robert%20monteith%20collection

A list of the current converted images on my website of this young lady.
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery/#0800-050
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-2/#0800-078
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-3/#0800-111
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-5/#0800-209
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-5/#0800-223
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-9/#0800-425
https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-16/#0800-761

Posted 6-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address:
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629288
Robert Monteith Collection

A group of friends. Darwin Circa 1920. Myrtle Styles (Fawcett), a Red Cross Nurse, is the young lady on the right, and appears in many photos that Robert Monteith has taken.

Don: 4-Sep-2024
Robert Monteith was a prolific Darwin photographer, possibly employed by the British Australia Telegraph company (BAT). He captured many photos between 1910 and 1934, and this same unidentified young woman appears frequently. She might be a relative or perhaps a close friend.

Though Robert is mentioned in local press coverage of Darwin’s football and tennis teams, details about him remain sparse. I’d love to learn more about his life and work. He appears in many of photos in his own collection, so perhaps he had an assistant. Some cameras of this era, allowed for remote releases or cable releases, enabling photographers to trigger the shutter from a distance, but this doesn't seem apparent in Robert's photos.

Just spoke with Sharron Noske, and it appears Bill Lemon and Robert Monteith both worked at BAT during the same years, played football, Tennis and it looks like the unidentified young lady may have been a nurse. Robert could have taken all the photos in the Bill Lemon Collection. More to come.

Marianne McAdie: 4-Sep-2024
I found Robert Monteith on the electoral roll for 1922 with occupation telegrapher and living in Mitchell st. I have hunted down that the post manager in Darwin was E J Cook with a daughter Beatrice Alice. They were from Kadina in SA. She married Boyd Miller Corbett in 1929 and she died in 1964. She is buried at Springvale Cemetery in Victoria. I have been hunting around for her birth year to see if she is the appropriate age and also if I can find a photo. Mr Bald was killed at the post office in the first air raid was also from Kadina.

8-Sep-2024:
Previously unidentified young Lady in many of Robert's photos is Myrtle Styles (Fawcett), a Red Cross Nurse.

Posted 8-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address:
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629257
Robert Monteith Collection

Don: 4-Sep-2024
Robert Monteith was a prolific Darwin photographer, employed by the British Australia Telegraph Company (BAT). He captured many photos between 1910 and 1934, and this same unidentified young woman appears frequently. She might be a relative or perhaps a close friend.
Robert is mentioned in local press coverage of Darwin’s football and tennis teams.

Marianne McAdie: 4-Sep-2024
I found Robert Monteith on the electoral roll for 1922 with the occupation of telegrapher and living in Mitchell st. I have hunted down post manager in Darwin was E J Cook with a daughter Beatrice Alice. They were from Kadina in SA. She married Boyd Miller Corbett in 1929 and she died in 1964. She is buried at Springvale Cemetery in Victoria. I have been hunting around for her birth year to see if she is the appropriate age and also if I can find a photo. Mr Bald was killed at the post office in the first air raid was also from Kadina.

8-Sep-2024:
Previously unidentified young Lady in many of Robert's photos is Myrtle Styles (Fawcett), a Red Cross Nurse.

Kerry Mark 8-Sep-2024
After researching these people for days I have come to realise all of them except Mrs Thompson are old friends or relatives of my family!!! I guess even Mrs Thompsons life would probably have been intertwined with thise of my oldies too….I guess it stands to be because my oldies were reared at Brocks Creek and Pine Creek and later grew up in Darwin but I had no idea who they were or that I had encountered most them before now. They were just “oldies”, old friends of my oldies, just people of old Darwin….but they really are much more than that…each is a real pioneer with a personal story who laid the foundations of Darwin and surrounding areas that allowed me to experience the very best of Darwin without the pain they went through… in my mind have composed and read the life stories of these people over the last few days and I’m blown out by what each one of them were actually going through when these photos were taken. I will never look at a photo of someone from this era again without wondering how life was for them. Life appeared fun in Darwin according to the pics, theatres races, swimming, picnics, football, beer, etc but each of these families were going through a heck of a lot of trauma too. …war years, ill health, loss of children, bloody hard yakka, etc etc etc and then most of them were bombed in later years! I salute them all??

Don 8-Sep-2024
Kerry Mark Well said!!! Because of your intensive research Kerry Mark, and the follow-up I am sure just as with intensive research by Macca (Marianne McAdie) we have been able to give a name to what was previously, a mysterious young lady in so many historical NT images. Not only that, we now have so many family and friends connections creating so much more to research. I feel the journey has just begun, as we are now getting new photos and stories flooding in. A big task for me. ?? Now I have 10 or 12 converted images that will need new edited text descriptions, so forgive me if I don't get around to correcting all of them in a short time. AND the social scene of the 1900s and on, has it changed all that much? Sure the hard yakka stuff has changed dramatically. It is hard to imagine living through those times.

Marianne McAdie 12-Sep-2024
I think I can put two more names to the photo bottom right sitting Cecil Freer. Cecil was best man at Myrtle and Jim Fawcett wedding. He was a a buffalo shooter, pioneer, station owner and pearler. The other is gentleman standing behind him Ron Wyatt. He is identified in a photo posted by Kathy Blockey in Sept 2018 on Old Darwin Page (left Jim Fawcett centre and on right Creed Lovegrove).

Posted 11-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: The NT News
Myrtle Fawcett (nee Styles) taking the Blue Devil for a spin on a dry season day in 1931.
Ably assisted by my friend Mick Gulovsen with this colourisation.

Don:
I was able to positively identify the car, thanks to the wheels being the key clue. It’s a Citroën Type A from 1919-1921. You can check out more details, including a fantastic image gallery, here: [Citroën Type A](https://www.citroenorigins.co.uk/en/cars/10-hp-type).

Unless I missed a specific body type in the specs, it seems that the rear section of the car might be custom-built. It has the rugged look of a true bushman's sports car, likely adapted for rough terrain. It’s possible the original running boards and mudguards were damaged, leading to these extensive modifications. Additionally, the petrol tank has been moved from its original position above the firewall to a cylindrical tank behind the passengers, a wise safety upgrade. Possibly even an official Australian manufactured custom body.

Marianne McAdie 13-Sep-2024
Checked with the family car experts, my dad and brother. They agreed the car is definitely home built from scavenged parts, which is a tradition in the Territory. The large round object in the back is a long distance fuel tank. They also agree that the fenders are home made. The wheels are solid but the tires have air in them. By 1930’s only large vehicles had solid tyres.

Posted 13-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and description: NT News
Ably assisted by my friend Mick Gulovsen with this colourisation.

Bathing beauties Eileen Gurry, Myrtle Fawcett (nee Styles) and Heather Bell. Darwin Circa 1930s

Marianne McAdie 19-Sep-2024
Heather Bell married Tom Harris. She helped him run the Star Theatre and played piano for the films.
Nights at the Star: The Star, managed by Tom and Heather Harris, became a well-loved part of Darwin. Heather Harris (nee Bell) played the piano while her husband operated the projector. An acrobat, dancer, and teenage owner of one of the first Harley-Davidson motorbikes in the Top End, she scandalised the small community with her pranks before marrying Tom in 1932.  https://www.deckchaircinema.com/history

I resorted to genealogy sites and discovered that Eileen left Darwin and travelled to Adelaide. She died there in July 1935 after a long illness. Her father was Edward Gurry, former Post Master of Darwin and her mother was Evelyn Stratton. Evelyn was born in Pine Creek in 1878.
Other than that there are a couple of articles at the Archives, Eileen apparently played tennis.

Lyn Price 19-Sep-2024
Myrtle Fawcett was a great friend of my grandmother at Adelaide River .My grandparents had the general store and she had the pub .My grandmother and her went to Japan together around 1955

Posted 18-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/735871
Northern Territory Government Photographer Collection
Ably assisted by my friend Mick Gulovsen with this colourisation.

Description:
Voluntary Aid Detachment's Red Cross Jumble Sale. Circa 1919 Darwin
Back: Dolores Flynn, Myrtle Styles, Lilla Bell, Mrs Wells (judge's wife), Ivy Bell, Topsy Finniss.
Front: Mrs Edwards Snr, (Roy Edwards' mother) - wife of Skipper Edwards.

Nurses uniform WWI:
https://visitwanderland.com.au/explore/south-west/northcliffe-pioneer-museum/nurses-cape-and-red-cross-memorabilia

Rob Stafford
VAD = Voluntary Aid Detachment. For info, see Aust War Memorial.

Marianne McAdie 21-Sep-2024 More research
Dolores Flynn was born Dolores Audrey Teresa Parer. Parer Drive in Moil is named for her father J. J. Parer. She married twice Leonard Thompson (died 1927) then Henry Flynn. Her sister Beryl was the licencee of the Darwin Club corner of Mitchel and Herbert St. Beryl’s husband was Claude Cashman owner of the Newsagency at the top of Smith Street.

I have my doubts that it is Mrs Wells. If the photo was taken about 1919. Judge Wells didn’t come to Darwin until 1933. In 1919 Alexander Wells had just returned from WW1 service and was studying part time at Sydney Uni. The resident judge in 1919 was The Honourable David John Davies Bevan. He is famous for being run out of town during the Darwin uprising. He didn’t marry Donna Reed until 1924. After Bevan’s removal he was temporarily replaced with The Honourable Norman Kirkwood Ewing DJ. He was married to Maud Stone in 1897. In 1919 she would have been 62, bit old for the woman indicated.

Roy Edwards is interesting. He owned Newcastle Waters station and his father Henry was a pearling master.
Apparently he was the only person to own a private plane at the time of the bombing. When he and his wife went to the airport intending to fly out, they discovered the plane riddled with bullet holes. They evacuated on the train.
https://www.drbilldayanthropologist.com/resources/The%20man%20named%20after%20a%20butcher%20shop.pdf

Tony Stokes 18-Oct-2024
Hi Don. Dolores Flynn in the Red Cross photo could perhaps be more accurately called Dolores Thompson as she was married to Len Thompson when it was taken in maybe 1919. She was my great aunt, born Dolores Parer in Melbourne in 1894. In 1916 she married Len Thompson in Melbourne and in 1917 they had a son. Her husband died in a Darwin railway accident on 18 June 1927 On 14 January 1939 she married her second husband, Harold Flynn, in Darwin. She was a wonderful pioneer woman whom everyone knew as 'Dellie'. She passed away in Darwin in 1985.

Posted 20-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629287 Robert Monteith Collection

Description:
Robert Monteith left front row with a group of men dressed in suits.

Posted 27-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/609839
Photographer: Morris, F. R.

Don:
The railway yards in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia have a long and significant history. The first railway line in Darwin was built in 1889, connecting the city with the port of Pine Creek. The railway yards were initially used to service and repair trains, but they also played an important role during World War II. In 1942, the Japanese bombed Darwin, causing significant damage to the railway yards. Following the war, the yards were rebuilt and expanded.

This is one of 3 photos making up a panoramic shot at: https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-5/#0800-239
However this one gives much more detail.

see also: https://www.wizard-of-oz.com/darwin-gallery-10/#0800-486

Posted 14-Mar-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/610458
Photographer: Edwards, Roy
Title given by Territory Stories manager.

Description:
Photos from an album of mixed work and relaxation photos taken by Roy Edwards in NT in the 1920s.

Posted 19-Mar-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Lisa Bennett. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Don:
The history of the Parap Hotel in Darwin, Australia is somewhat fragmented, but it is believed to have been established in 1937 to cater to the passenger traffic from the nearby Parap Air Port. The hotel was damaged during the Japanese bombing of Darwin in World War II in April 1942, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974, but on both occasions was later rebuilt.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Parap Hotel was transformed into a topless bar and became a popular gathering spot for artists, musicians, and political activists. Despite this change in atmosphere, the hotel remained under the ownership of the Dowling family since 1947.

However, in 2020, the Parap Tavern was acquired by the Long WALE Investment Partnership, a Charter Hall managed partnership, for $19.7 million. Despite its colourful history, the Parap Hotel remains a vital part of the community in
Darwin and continues to be a popular destination for travellers and locals alike.

Joyce Davis 12-April-2023:
The Parap Hotel was started by George Searle, whose wife was a daughter of May Brown, the Wolfram Queen. At that stage, May Brown was living on the corner of Bennett and Smith Street, where the Commonwealth Bank was later built. The owner of the Vic Hotel was her sister and another of May Brown's daughters. Jackie Searle later married Vern O'Brien. She was sent to Sydney to live with another aunt when her mother passed away. Then George Searle joined the AIF. After the war, he was discharged and returned to Darwin in Jan 1946 with my mother, father, and myself on the Ghan train.

There was a bridge wash-away just north of Maree, so we were held up there for a week. My father, Mum, and myself had to get a room at the Mare Hotel while we waited, but a lot of the passengers had to sleep on the train till the line had been repaired. When we reached Alice Springs, we were met by my brother Fred, who had driven a truck to the Alice to meet us, and Dad purchased another there as well. We travelled overland by the trucks carrying our goods, and Dad, Fred, and George Searle took turns driving through the night and staying at hotels during the day.

When we reached Darwin, we dropped George off at the Parap Hotel and finished our journey at our house in Smith Street, which was the original Curio by Jack Buscall, and my father had purchased from him in Adelaide before we returned to Darwin because our house and business in Cavenagh Street had been destroyed. George Searle sold the Parap Hotel to the Dowling family in 1947.

Posted 21-Mar-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: Kerry Mark

Don: I have left the various descriptions that Kerry gave me intact for reference.

Buttle, Buscall family taken at the Shackle Brocks Creek ...Via Darwin N.T. Circa 1919 Great Great grandfather Buttle was the mine manager. The little girl in the middle is my nana Joyce Fergusson nee Buscall. Jean McKercher nee Buscall on the right.

George Buttle standing. Emily Jane Buttle sitting RHS. Maude Close/Buscall nee Buttle sitting LHS. George Buttle Buscall on Maude’s lap. Joyce Fergusson nee Buscall middle. Jean McKercher nee Buscall standing RHS. Taken 1920/21 at Mount Bonney Homestead where Mr Buttle was mine manager.

I’m pretty sure it was taken in 1921 . I saw a date on one of the copies but heavens knows where it is. As I inherited all the photos of ancestors and albums from all generations there were different albums belonging to each generation and I have shared them with other family members. Gran told me this was taken when she left JC Buscall and went home to live with her parents at Mt Bonney Homestead (near Grove Hill) The man in the picture is great grans dad George Buttle who was mines manager at Mt Bonney at the time. Gran later married George Close. So, holding the boy George born Feb 1917, is my great gran Maude Close (previously Buscall) nee Buttle my Nana is the girl in the middle and her sister Jean RHS. Great gran and grandad later settled on a cattle property nearby and I lived quite a bit of my life with them. They used to take me up to Mt Bonney to look at remains of township and tend graves. I believe they were all bulldozed for the new mining venture which took place in the 80’s ??

Posted 25-Sep-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/723564
A. A. & P. F. Wright Collection. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Description:
View from water tower, Wilkinson Street and Goyder Road, Darwin. Shows Goyder Road, Bullocky Point, Vestey's Meatworks, Mindil Beach. Taken prior to construction of Darwin High School.

Posted 4-Oct-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and description: Kerry Mark. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Kerry Mark: 25-April-2017 in Old Darwin FB Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/499687943439298/posts/1554768144597934/

Our Nan. Joyce Fergusson. nee Buscall. It is ten years today since Nana departed this existence....Anzac Day 2007 Now Resting in Peace with her loved ones and friends. She was proud to have served in the Army...in her day she had many relatives and friends serving and her birthplace Darwin, had just been bombed. Her brother George (Boy) Buscall also joined.

I often wonder if she choose Anzac Day to depart.
Nana on left with the Browns....another Old Darwin family.

Don:
While working on this photo, I felt it underwent an incredible transformation. It almost felt as though I was peeking into someone’s personal photo album without permission.

I'm still trying to decide whether it’s good, bad, or something in between, and I wanted to get your thoughts on it. If you’d like to keep it for yourself, that’s perfectly fine.

If you'd prefer to share it, perhaps you could add a nice text description. Feel free to add to the story below or even re-edit the whole thing, whatever works best for you.

Kerry Mark:
The sparkle in her eyes makes her live. Her hair is so real I want to touch it. She was so fussy about her hair. I have never noticed the studio stamp on the photo, the smocking on the dress, her earrings, her eyebrows, or her teeth. She gave me those eyebrows and the teeth. Oh if I could only hug her a few more times and sit and talk to her.

You do such a beautiful job. I am happy to see my oldies photos brought to life. Go ahead with many thanks.

Additional images:
I love this photo of her. We met these friends of her here in Townsville for lunch and she was so happy. I had told her I was pregnant. These friends are Vic and Ruby Brown from Darwin’s Vic Voules Brown. Nana and Vic were kids together.

Vic Brown with Jean's first child, James McKercher.

Posted 9-Oct-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/310600
M. Goodale Collection

Description:
A group on a beach picnic. Mr Bald, the Post Master, standing second from left.

Marianne McAdie 1-Oct-2024
Lady with the curly hair maybe Iris Bald, Fourth from left maybe Herb Page.
Left might be William "Bluey" Hales the survivor of the bombing. I had the pleasure of meeting him and hearing his story from that day. The decision of turning in the opposite direction from the others. Ended up in the gutter in front of the Bank of NSW. I could find a young photo of him.

2nd from Left might be Eileen Mullen. See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/726279278803201/posts/1267719761325814/

Posted 26-Mar-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/676142
Country Women's Association Collection

Description:
Women of the CWA (Country Women's Association) Darwin Branch. Mrs Weedon, Mrs Fawcett, Mrs Cummings, Mrs Abbott (Patroness), Mrs Fothergill, Mrs Lyons are a few of the ladies named. Date circa 1937.

Don: 13-Oct-2024
A search on the name popped this one to the surface. Myrtle Fawcett (née Styles), the young woman whose identity I've been seeking for 2.5 years.

14-Oct-2024
This will give the Darwin Ancestral Historians something to work with. Judy Beard just passed this handwritten facial ID map onto me. She believes it was done by her Aunty Joyce Davis. I will add it to my website story. Don...

Eight Zoom shots:
I have zoomed in on all faces, and used the upright pillars as markers. 1 to 4 are the back row. 5 to 8 are the front row.
You should be able to go to a 200% zoom on these, and still work out most faces.

Posted 15-Oct-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/332820
Peter Spillett Collection 

Description:
N.T. Volunteers in the First World War AIF. Originally formed from the "Cable Guard" responsible for guarding the BAT at Lyons Cottage. Taken at Knuckey Street.

Vickers Machine Guns in front.
Back row, left to right: J. E. Fawcett; ?; ?; ?; Arthur Lawder; ?; ?; ?; ?; ?; ?; Willie Barnes; ?; ?; David Whiteford.
Front row, left to right: Antony Xuereb; Fred Askins; ?; L. A. Giles; Will Hare; Harry Bunce Pott; ?.

See zoom shot:
Back row left to right: J. E. Fawcett. Now that name seems to ring a bell!!
It appears that James Edward Fawcett married Myrtle Styles and eventually became the Adelaide River Publicans.

Posted 18-Oct-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629252
Robert Monteith Collection Date: 1920

Description:
Men and women in their swimsuits. Circa 1920

Posted 28-Mar-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/749410
Collection: Darwin 1914-1916 Collection

View of "8 hour days. Sports" - on photo. This was on the Esplanade. History of 8 hour day - "21 April 1856, following negotiations between building tradesmen and contractors, and with the approval of the colonial government, an eight hour day was introduced into the building trades in Melbourne. The movement was led by the stonemasons who argued that eight hours a day was appropriate in the Australian heat. It would also give them time to improve their 'social and moral condition'."

Posted 2-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Al Holmes. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Late Edit 4-Apr-2025
Many members have indicated that this image may have been taken much later, possibly in the early 1970s. Don...

Posted 4-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Al Holmes. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Matthew Coffey:
The Original was the Penthouse and yes it was Fannies first site then a few things absolutely loved it when it was Genghis Khan.

Posted 9-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: Greek Cafés & Milk Bars of Australia

Marion (left) and Julie Canaris’ parents, Michael and Evangelia (nee Kailis), were originally from the tiny island of Kastellorizo in Greece.

Julie: ‘Some Greeks told him [my father] that he would make a fortune if he came to Darwin" We opened a shop in Chinatown " the Great Northern Star Café. Chinese and half-caste girls worked in the shop… After the war [World War II], we went into the Star Milk Bar next to the Star Picture Theatre in Smith Street… It was where the mall is today… The shop had two sections – the back section was to serve Aboriginal people. In those days you were not permitted to serve Aboriginal people. It was a meeting place for young people… a real money spinner… It had ice creams… we also sold milkshakes, lemon and orange squash, scorched almonds, Cherry Ripes, boxed chocolates, cigarettes and tobacco... Our main aim was to serve as many customers as possible during interval… you needed five to six people [staff] during intervals… Our uniforms were designed by a dressmaker, Mary Taifalos… They were made up in Perth and were green with a red star on the pockets. The uniforms looked nice… I have people recognising me even today as “Julie from the Star Milk Bar”.’

Greek-run food-catering businesses in Darwin during the 1940s to 1950s, such as the Star Milk Bar, the Rendezvous Café, and the Continental Milk Bar, all attempted to express a sophisticated style in their design, furnishings, staff uniforms and customer service that copied Greek cafés and milk bars in Australia’s major urban centres – they tried to offer ‘a bit of Hollywood glamour’ in a what was then a frontier town.

Photo courtesy Papadonakis family, from the "In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians" National Project Archives, Macquarie University, Sydney

OTHER CAFE & MILK BAR STORIES (INCLUDING FROM NT) CAN BE FOUND IN "Greek Cafes & Milk Bars of Australia" (Halstead Press, 2022, new, revised reprint):
http://www.cafesandmilkbars.com.au

Posted 11-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and description: Noel Kentish

A photo from my father, Len Kentish in 1935.

Posted 16-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/736879 Ronald Lister Collection

Description:
Vesteys Meatworks under construction showing slaughter house middle background and freezer right foreground. Michele Adler viewed the original 13 July 2015 and on the basis of format and style, to be a possible Ryko photograph.

Posted 18-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+742/5/83
Photographer Sweet, Samuel White Approximately 1870

A group of men are standing on the beach. Circa 1870

Fort Hill, Darwin. A group of men are standing on the beach. Photographer Captain Sweet. Circa 1870

Posted 23-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and description: Kerry Mark

This was taken in Darwin at The Coconuts (Nightcliff) in 1941/42.
I’m wondering if anyone knows how I might go about identifying the gentleman.
The woman is Joyce Buscall daughter of JC Buscall of Curio Cottage Smith St

Posted 30-Apr-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+44654
1911 Part of Darwin Collection

NT gaining its independence from South Australia.

Posted 2-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+9731 Approximately 1870
Part of Darwin Collection

Posted 7-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image and Description: Terry O'Connor. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.
What Stokes Hill Wharf looked like in 1984 with a couple of Navy vessels alongside.

Stephen Holt
Stalwart alongside, vampire next to her and a destroyer escort outboard.
Back 3, 2 FFG’s with a destroyer escort outboard

Posted 9-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: Lyn Adrian. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

This is the way offices used to work - no computers, only a typewriter.
Think this photo was taken in my office at Dalgety Travel in Winnellie mid to late 70's.
Person at my desk was my mother on a visit to Darwin.

Posted 14-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and description: Jean D'Ambrosio Whelan

One of the pictures of the original Seabreeze on Nightcliff foreshore, when my late father and others ran the hotel, Mum de Fraine was the Manager, then my Uncle became Manager after her. I have 2 more to put on, one is the dance floor the other the managers residence

Posted 16-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Al Holmes. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Posted 21-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image source and description: Judy Beard. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

This photo pops up from time to time on Old Darwin.
Term 3, 1963 at Darwin High School on Bullocky Point. Sandra Bridge, Judy Swan, Richard Lovato and Sandra Raasveldt.

Posted 23-May-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/741771

Description:
The Darwin Brass Band playing at the Australian Workers Union stand (Labor Day).
Arrow points to Ronald Lister. Michele Adler viewed the original 13 July 2015
and positively identifies the handwriting on the front as Ryko's.

Posted 4-July-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image source: N/A

Posted 11-July-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image source and description: Jean D'Ambrosio Whelan

One of the pictures of the original Seabreeze on Nightcliff foreshore, when my late father and others ran the hotel, Mum de Fraine was the Manager, then my Uncle became Manager after her. I have 2 more to put on, one is the dance floor the other the managers residence.

Posted 18-Jul-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Photo: P.Hart (N.T. Archives Service NTRS 1655). Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Description: Gordon Gus Withnall
Some of you Tracy survivors may not have seen this photo.
It's Constable Ian Dowbe guarding the loading of beer from the old Aviation Club store in the aftermath of Tracy.

Posted 25-July-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: Phil Maynard. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Posted 8-Nov-2024

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Photographer: Monteith, Robert Date Created: 1920
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629214

Description:
Tennis court with chairs buildings, structures, and establishments.

Don:
I have this photo that confused me a little, and I hope someone can throw some light on it. It appears to show the BAT (British-Australian-Telegraph) tennis court parallel to the BAT buildings in 1920. I have many later images (plus the 1942 map) of the Tennis Court being at a 45-degree angle to the BAT buildings. The Cenotaph was constructed in front of Government House in 1921, basically on the corner of Mitchell Street and The Esplanade. Is it possible the Tennis Court was swung at this angle to accommodate the new 1921 Cenotaph?

Andrew King
This had me puzzled, a while back, for the same reason and I also wanted to know when it was shifted, to help me date other photos. I looked on Trove and could find no mention of it in the Newspapers of the time and also looked for any tenders for the work to be carried out and found nothing. One thing that might be related is that the later court had as one end of the net, acting as a post I think, was the survey marker for Darwin. Another explanation could be that, as the telegraph was probably run as a 24hr operation, having a tennis court right outside the sleeping quarters, might be a tad annoying if you have come off shift and need sleep.

Don:
Andrew King I am glad you are puzzled also Andrew. I'll gather up your notes, and my notes and add them to the story on my website. And thank you for putting in the effort.

Trove 29-Jan-1924
Contractor Harold Snell has been commissioned by the B.A.T. to install an up to date tennis court on the old site in the company's grounds, and the work is progressing well Several men have been employed for the past ten days or so building up for an extension of the area, and by the time their labours are finished the surface should be perfectly level. The new court faces north and south.

Contractor Snell is nearing completion of the new tennis Court at the BAT. The old court faced east and! west, and in the late afternoon, owing to the glare of the sun in the players' eye, decent play was impossible. The new court faces north and south and quite overcomes the difficulty, and should be the scene of many exciting games during the coming season.

Trove 2-Apr-1924
The B A T Tennis Club will officially open its fine new court tomorrow.

Posted 8-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: N/A

Vacant lot is where the yet to be built Commonwealth Bank and Bank of NSW on right c1895

Posted 15-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Marty Lesley Perry. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Posted 16-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Marty Lesley Perry. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Posted 17-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: April Tomlin. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Posted 18-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: Ross Myers

Main Street Darwin Dec.1941 (This small photo has been in our family album for many years).

Posted 20-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629270
Robert Monteith Collection Date: 1920
Location: Darwin City

Eleven men sitting at the beach, some eating.

Posted 21-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source and Description: SLSA

Posted 22-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/653502

Description:
The Wong-Pang Family evacuated on SS Montaro in 1941/42 from Darwin. Back Row L-R: Edward; Les; Violet; Fred Middle Row L-R: Shirley; Mervyn; Rose Front L-R: Jeanette; Pat (Fred was evacuated overland)

Posted 23-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: N/A

Posted 24-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.

Image Source: Dawn Simpson. Colour Corrected by Don McKenzie.

Here I am pouring a coldie in The cocktail bar (very posh) in the Terrace Restaurant at the Travelodge in 1977
We were dressed like Swiss maids! Terrace Restaurant at the Travelodge in 1977.

Posted 25-Aug-2025

Click on image to enlarge.
Then Click on back button (or close tab) to return.