Photographer: Foelsche, P. (Paul), 1831-1914
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/436192
Collection: Foelsche Photograph Album
Copyright owner: Library & Archives NT

Description:
MS in brown ink on mount "1885". Signboard in photograph "P.R. ALLEN & COY." Depicts a store front and verandah with two Aboriginal men at left standing by a dray.

Timothy Jones quotes a 1883 Government Report that states: 'Messes. J. Allen & Co. have erected a neat store in Chinatown and a really handsome residence for Mr Allen, who is a Chinaman'. He believes the store constructed was P.R. Allen & Co. The store was located on the corner of Bennett and Mitchell streets in Darwin, Northern Territory

Posted 21-February 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/730997
Percy Brown Collection

Description:
Bennett Street, Darwin, looking past Mitchell Street towards Smith Street. A E Jolly & Co is on the corner of Bennett and Smith Streets (Jolly's full name: Alfred Edward Jolly). A street light is on the corner of Bennett and Mitchell Streets, and several telegraph poles are on the right side of the street.

Posted 22-February 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/323775
Bruce Sutherland Collection.
See also PH0274/0437.

Description:
Jacques and Brax (Horrocks) in Roy Edwards car (T Model Ford) parked in the street. Buildings in background. British Australian Telegraph.

Posted 23-February 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/314914
Darwina & William Fong Collection

Description:
Mrs Sue Wah Chin, during the evacuation period from Darwin

Posted 24-February 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/703776
William Henry Lillicrapp Collection

Description:
Edith McNab (Miller) married policeman Eric (Sandy) McNab at the Point Charles lighthouse in 1930. Their house -- which was very much admired -- was situated on the Stuart Highway, on the right-hand side when in-bound, just before the Daly Street bridge (near present-day Bridge Motors). The house was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974, and Sandy McNab sustained injuries from which he died. Note the push-out windows and cane chairs.

Don:
The walls are breeze through slats with roll down blinds.

Dan McNab 26-Feb-2022
This description i don't think is correct my father Bill McNab and myself and 2 sisters where in a railway house right next to Daly St bridge 17d Burt St was the address when Tracy hit our house only suffered minimal damage grandad was living out at the 17mile at the time but was in Nightcliff at nanna clarks place the night Tracy hit.

It was right next to railway line there was originally 3 houses there our was the only one left after Tracy our was closest to bridge right where the used car yard is today city wreckers was next door.

Posted 25-February 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/727707
Marie & Lindsay Perry Collection

Description:
Dr F.Goldsmith & Mrs Edith Goldsmith, (nee Edmunds). He was Chief Medical Officer of NT from 1896-1904. Seen in the court-yard of their house surrounded by pot plants

Posted 26-February 2022

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https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+10141

Skelton's stores, Bennett St. & Smith Street. Joseph Skelton relocated the printing press to the back of his store on Lot 44 (on the corner of Smith and Bennett Streets) after purchasing the Northern Territory Times and Government
Gazette in 1877.

Posted 27-February 2022

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https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+9733

Palmerston. Sub. Inspector of Police's Quarters (Mr Paul Foelsche) After arriving in Palmerston and realising there was no Police Station Foelsche and his six troopers built one. His first residence was a two room tin hut which was later replaced by a three roomed house in Mitchell Street. Paul Foelsche was Keeper of the Palmerston Gaol from 1872 - 1874. The quarters were built on the site of what was later to be the Government Administrative Offices, almost facing the Cable Quarters.

Mark McAdie 28-Feb-2022
Foelsche did not help build the station himself, and his Troopers roundly objected to having to build the police station themselves. They ultimately refused to finish it and the Resident eventually had to cave and hire day labour to finish it. Whilst building the police station which was constructed of local timber the trooper also cut timber for the first iteration of what is now Government House.

Posted 28-February 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/321993
Phyllis Moyle Collection ;

Description:
View from corner Cavenagh Street and the Esplanade looking along Esplanade toward Government Offices in distance , two Chinese shops in middle ground , Chinese shop on Cavenagh Street corner in foreground . Church of England residence obscured in centre .

Front to back: Sun Cheong Loong (Fang Cheong Loong) business name, Mook Sang, laundry owned by Willie Chin, Robert Chin and Charlie Chin.

Don:
Cavenagh Street no longer joins up with the Esplanade. You can see Hughes Ave dropping off to the left and Smith Street way past that, to the right.

Posted 1-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/330214
Peter Spillett Collection

Description:
The first job done in Darwin by European labour, Nov. 1914/15. The construction of Customs Officer Watts' residence. Dick Hellings wearing apron. Carpenter Jack Buscall-Builder (1st on left). Customs Officer Watts last on right. Middle foreground, Learmouth.

Jack Buscall was a Builder, and entrepreneur. If ever you lived in Darwin, or fell in love with it, you should know something about Jack.

28-Dec-2023 Hi Kerry,
Your captivating stories about your Great Grandfather Jack Buscall have made me feel almost like a part of the family.

He stands out as one of the genuine pioneers and entrepreneurs of Darwin. I understand that, as someone with physical limitations, he may not have been able to capture all the credited photographs. The attribution, perhaps passed down through his role as a photo seller, may have been incorrectly assigned to historical archives, making it challenging to rectify. In many cases, the true credit is now unknown due to the passage of years.

Given these challenges, it seems best for me to incorporate your explanation into some of the personal images I've created of Jack Buscall on my website. This could serve as a reference for future generations, contributing to a more accurate understanding of the past.

Don...

28-Dec-2023 Kerry Mark:
Don, I thought so but I read a comment somewhere that indicated otherwise.
Just for reference sake, I noticed comment about my grandfather JC Buscalls ability to have had taken this (and a lot of other photos I have posted) while being a complete cripple. I share all my ancestors photos relating to historic Darwin so they can be enjoyed by others.

They are picked up and used by MANY in various ways and although I am annoyed when they are used with incorrect information etc I will continue to share them because I feel it’s the right thing to do with them. I have no control as to how they are catalogued on historical sites or archive sites. They are often placed in the “Buscall collection” and name Jack Buscall as the photographer. I can’t prevent this and does it really matter so long as they are out there. The photos come from JC Buscalls collections and those of his ex wife and two daughters who are all obviously deceased.

While still alive my nana and great grandmother shared any photo anyone wanted for their books etc on NT history as they were all avid amateur photographers which were rare in the early days in Darwin. JC Buscall had contacts and agency in Curio Cottage to have prints done obviously cheaper than most people and he often used his and families photos to make post cards and sell them in his shop. He made money out of anything he could! Peter Spillit was a good friend of my great grandmother and he was often at grans sifting through her historic albums with her and I often see her photo’s catalogued in his collection….so was Grenville Pike…this is going to happen and I am happy for this to happen.

So there you go…this is how so many photos are credited to the Buscall album or referred to as having been taken by J C Buscall.

 Ps…I know Buscall himself was often driven around Darwin as a cripple to see his creations, “new things” and to funerals, weddings etc by friends (old Darwinites) because he wrote to his brother weekly for many years when he was a cripple telling him exactly what he had been up to during the week and what was happening in Darwin and who visited him (along with all the juicy gossip which I don’t share). His brother and sister-in-law kept his letters and now they are in my possession so I am privileged to kinda walk in his shoes right up to his death. Cheers.

Posted 2-March 2022

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Image: Kerry Mark
This is one of my favourite photos of Curio Cottage.

Location:
Smith near Peel Street Darwin.

Jack Buscall owned several properties in town however I think Curio Cottage was one he kept expanding on. I do know he had what was referred to as a menagerie out the back in 1939, crocks, snakes, geese, kangaroos etc "....for tourists" ?? as I have letters Buscall wrote to his brother describing it and also newspaper articles.

Jack Buscall (Builder, and entrepreneur, is the great grand father of Kerry Mark. Kerry has a great deal of information and photos of her ancestor.

If ever you lived in Darwin, or fell in love with it, you should know something about Jack.

Posted 3-March 2022

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Photographer: Lockwood, Douglas
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/431827
Douglas Lockwood Collection ;

Description:
Exterior view of the front of the house with a Chevrolet motor car in the driveway.

The house was the Herald House on The Esplanade. It was designed by D.K. Turner
of architectural firm Stephenson & Turner who were also responsible for the Hotel Darwin. The house floors were of green polished concrete as was featured in the Hotel Darwin. In 1968 an air-conditioned office was added at the side of the house.

Posted 5-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/723815
Northern Territory Government Photographer Collection. ;

Description:
Government House from Kitchener Drive. The bitumen plant tanks in foreground were some way from the base of the hill on which Government House sits.

Posted 6-March 2022

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Australian Inland Mission collection.
Flynn, John, 1880-1951. At National Library

Title
Fanny [i.e. Fannie] Bay gaol : scenes from the North Australia Patrol and other general scenes, 1937 - 1942 / [John Flynn?].

Posted 7-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/310513
Frank Blackwell Collection

Description:
View of Cavenagh Street to the port and Chinatown - Gordon's Don Hotel right on Bennett Street, the banyan tree 'Tree of Knowledge' left. Date uncertain, around 1939

Experiment: I have inserted into the picture, a small image of the current location. Good? Bad? Comments?

Posted 9-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/751107
A. Jarvis Collection ;

Description:
"Star Pictures - Darwin, N.A." (shows exterior of Star Theatre, soon after construction?)

Waking Up the Town Movie 1925 1h 3m. (Silent movie).

Posted 11-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/748636
M. R. Bradbrook Collection

Don:
I had a 1934 Chev, and this looks identical. I had the sedan model, then I moved onto a 39 Chev.

The house on the hill behind the station? I had caught fleeting glimpses of it in other photos, but this is a good shot of it. I Believe this is the Station Master's House. It would be sitting on what is now Tiger Brennan Drive.

Darwin Station Location: After a few message and map exchanges with Bryan Baker, he came up with this map. I then placed some suitable text on it.

From Bryan Baker:
The front corner was 25m from the navy building (or one length of the building).

Posted 12-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/817204
Harry Church Collection
Date Created: 01/07/1942

Description:
Public Works Department premises at 13 mile, Darwin. Harry Church lived here for a while in 1942.

13 mile is about 21km today, so this would be a little past Yarrawonga on the Stuart highway.
Depending on how the crow flew in 1942.

Posted 14-March 2022

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Photographer: Barnes, W. J.
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/739912
Peter Spillett Collection.

Description:
"Picnic at Rapid Creek, Darwin / Spillett". MS in pencil on back "Rapid Creek / Photo Will. J. Barnes".

Note that the display advertisement for Scrogg's Ammonia on the scrunched up newspaper at the centre of the photo appeared in Sydney's Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail between 1909 and 1921 which suggests that the 1899 date is not correct.

It looks like there has been an exchange of hats.

Posted 13-March 2022

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Photo Source Unknown

Aerial view of Smith Street early 1930s with the Vic Hotel centre right, the Star Theatre lower centre and the Commercial Bank to the left. Bennett Street can be seen in the top left corner.

Don:
As you can see, the B&W photo is a real shocker, but I feel I managed to push it into a workable image, that shows a lot of detail.

The structure of the Star Theatre can really be seen in this shot.

All of a sudden, the old photographs taken from the screen area pointing back to the audience, make a lot more sense now.

Posted 15-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/330681
Buscall Collection
Date: 01-08-1928

Don:
Jack Buscall was a Builder, and entrepreneur. If ever you lived in Darwin, or fell in love with it, you should know something about Jack.

Looks like he is at work here. A telephone, and what appears to be specialized drawing desk in front of him. A small box marked "PATHe" at his finger tips.

This appears to be his version of "The Office".

The story goes that he fell and broke his back while trying to break back into Fannie Bay Goal, where he resided at the time.

He was a cripple for the rest of his life, and came up with many new innovative ideas, such as the popular Curio Cottage in Smith near Peel Street Darwin.

Kerry Mark - And the real story.
19-March-2022 See Newspaper clips.

Kerry Mark - Jack's Great Grand Daughter
16-March-2022
Picture taken inside Curio Cottage. He ran the shop and all his other businesses from this position. He had a typewriter there also and he was an avid writer…often describing what it felt like lying in that bed under the hot tin roof in summer and how he felt about the people who tried to pilfer his goods, various helpers/staff, visitors, the lead up to the war etc…just one man’s account and life in OLD Darwin.

28-Dec-2023 Hi Kerry,

Your captivating stories about your Great Grandfather Jack Buscall have made me feel almost like a part of the family.

He stands out as one of the genuine pioneers and entrepreneurs of Darwin. I understand that, as someone with physical limitations, he may not have been able to capture all the credited photographs. The attribution, perhaps passed down through his role as a photo seller, may have been incorrectly assigned to historical archives, making it challenging to rectify. In many cases, the true credit is now unknown due to the passage of years.

Given these challenges, it seems best for me to incorporate your explanation into some of the personal images I've created of Jack Buscall on my website. This could serve as a reference for future generations, contributing to a more accurate understanding of the past.

Don...

28-Dec-2023 Kerry Mark:
Don, I thought so but I read a comment somewhere that indicated otherwise.
Just for reference sake, I noticed comment about my grandfather JC Buscalls ability to have had taken this (and a lot of other photos I have posted) while being a complete cripple. I share all my ancestors photos relating to historic Darwin so they can be enjoyed by others.

They are picked up and used by MANY in various ways and although I am annoyed when they are used with incorrect information etc I will continue to share them because I feel it’s the right thing to do with them. I have no control as to how they are catalogued on historical sites or archive sites. They are often placed in the “Buscall collection” and name Jack Buscall as the photographer. I can’t prevent this and does it really matter so long as they are out there. The photos come from JC Buscalls collections and those of his ex wife and two daughters who are all obviously deceased.

While still alive my nana and great grandmother shared any photo anyone wanted for their books etc on NT history as they were all avid amateur photographers which were rare in the early days in Darwin. JC Buscall had contacts and agency in Curio Cottage to have prints done obviously cheaper than most people and he often used his and families photos to make post cards and sell them in his shop. He made money out of anything he could! Peter Spillit was a good friend of my great grandmother and he was often at grans sifting through her historic albums with her and I often see her photo’s catalogued in his collection….so was Grenville Pike…this is going to happen and I am happy for this to happen.

So there you go…this is how so many photos are credited to the Buscall album or referred to as having been taken by J C Buscall.
Ps…I know Buscall himself was often driven around Darwin as a cripple to see his creations, “new things” and to funerals, weddings etc by friends (old Darwinites) because he wrote to his brother weekly for many years when he was a cripple telling him exactly what he had been up to during the week and what was happening in Darwin and who visited him (along with all the juicy gossip which I don’t share). His brother and sister-in-law kept his letters and now they are in my possession so I am privileged to kinda walk in his shoes right up to his death. Cheers.

Posted 16-March 2022

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https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+10119
Survey camp 1873, stables, etc at Fort Hill [also at B 46850].
Collection: Part of Darwin Collection

Bottom of Hughes Avenue.

Posted 17-March 2022

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Photo Source: Unknown

Darwin Races Fannie Bay 1915
A range of Pith Helmets and white suits for the men, and all ladies have very interesting fascinators.

A few digger's hats can be seen. BUT everybody, I mean everybody, has a hat.

The crowd has changed just a little bit.
Photo Source: NT News.

Posted 19-March 2022

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https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/459186
Foelsche Photograph Album

The BAT (British Australia Telegraph Co.) buildings on the Esplanade.

It appears this photo was taken from Government House Grounds.

Posted 20-March 2022

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https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1435/4/93
Photographer Nicholas, R. P

Subject World War, 1939-1945 - Aerial operations, Australian

One of the photographs from an album compiled by R.P. Nicholas, relating to his war service with the 87th Squadron, which was based at the Coomalie Creek base about 100 km south of Darwin.

Aerial photograph of Darwin oil tanks Approximately 1944

Don:
I found this photo extremely interesting but very hard to follow easily in the B&W Version.
So I took special care when I colourised it, and made it as sharp as I could possibly get, so that it could be zoomed up to 200% and still be readable.

I also flipped it 180 degrees to be more in keeping with Google Map orientation. To set it to true magnetic north, would delete possibly 35% of the image. 

Perhaps what it needs are street labels to make things easier to follow. Or has someone already done this? Or is there anyone interested in doing this?

23-March-2022 - New resolution images:

A three way collaboration project by Don McKenzie, Bryan Baker, and Mick Gulovsen.
We now have a choice of medium (2500 pixels) and high (4000 pixels) resolution images.
For casual viewing, the medium resolution may suit.

You can actually have two tabs open on a PC in hi-res mode, and flick between the tabs for comparisons.

Andrew King interpreted the photo details:
The photo was taken on 6 April 1944 at 9:10 am. I think the "L" after the time might mean local time. The 12" is the focal length of the camera and the 6000 is the height in feet. All used for scaling aerial photos.

Posted 18-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/736187
Collection: Percy Brown Collection
Copyright owner: Library & Archives NT

Description:
Radio operator (looks like Percy Brown) at work in the operating room, with photographs and equipment radio operators. Approx. 1919

Description Update 21-March-2022 by Don McKenzie.

Percy Brown was stationed in Darwin during the great war as a Radio Operator with the Darwin Coastal Service. This was located at the Gardens Darwin. He was an avid photographer and appears in what looks to be a Naval uniform in many other photographs. This specific shot of him gives a description that may well be incorrect. He is in uniform with a life jacket, so this could easily be the radio room of a ship at sea.

Posted 21-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/331438
Peter Spillett Collection
Date Created: 28/03/1902

Description:
Captioned: "The Sand-fly after colliding with a cow." "What might easily have proved a far more serious accident occurred on the Railway line on Friday last (Good Friday by the way), when a small engine known as the 'Sandfly' in charge of Mr. W. Warman, which was engaged in hauling four trucks loaded with coal out to the 2 & a half-Mile, came to grief through colliding with a cow belonging to Mr. J. A. G. Little."

Posted 22-March 2022

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Photo Source: Robert Porter

Bank of New South Wales Darwin 1939 - 1940, but check out that old classic car in front of the bank whatever it may be.

Comments on car
Rob Gill
Late series Austin 7 wearing more than the normal amount of bodywork

Tom Carey
"Brooklands" style racer,Back story,prev. Darwjn< thread,Adelaide/Darwin.

Posted 23-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/608872
George Hulme Cole Collection ;

Description:
Chinese New Year procession with men carrying the Australian and Chinese flags at the head of the procession, Cavenagh Street.

Posted 24-March 2022

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Photographer: Campbell, James Pinkerton
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/719827

Description:
Railway Goods Yard, Frances Bay Drive, Darwin. (shows horse drawn drays with loading - PF

Posted 25-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/743711
F. R. Morris Collection ;

Description:
A Chinese procession with flags, cars and pedestrians.

Don:
First car is a T Model Ford.

Posted 26-March 2022

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Photographer: Buscall, J. C.
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/330603
Collection: Buscall Collection ;

Description:
Curio Cottage Garage, erected by S. Palmer, completed 30 April 1939.

Don:
I believe that the Garage was situated around the corner from Curio Cottage.
In Peel Street one door from Smith Street.

Posted 27-March 2022

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Photo Source: Kerry Mark

My nana, then Joyce Buscall .
Christmas Day at Curio Cottage 1941

Don:
Yes, it is a Christmas Party hat.
And very close to the first bombing of Darwin in Feb-1942. Life was about to change very quickly.

Cheryl:
What a beautiful lady.

Smith near Peel Street.
Check the Darwin CBD 1942 Residence Map.

Posted 28-March 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/721025
Christa Roderick Collection ;

Description:
Darwin Primary School, kindergarten group. Teachers, Mrs Stahl, left and Mrs Maynard, right.
 
Phil Maynard:
The dark haired woman is my mother Ivy Maynard. It was taken at the Darwin Kindergarten which was separate from the Darwin Infant school It was located on the corner of Mitchell St and Peel St. Sadly my mum died suddenly in 1961.

Don: Many children appear to have their favourite toys with them.
Lot 280 Woods Street. Between Knuckey and Peel ??
Check the Darwin CBD 1942 Residence Map.

Posted 29-March 2022

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Photographer: Brown, Percy
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/591254
Percy Brown Collection ;

My thanks to Bryan Baker for directing me to a much better resolution of this image.

Description:
Railway station, Darwin, taken from a hill overlooking the station, with Darwin Harbour in the background. The road on the right leads into town. A herd of goats are feeding beside the tracks. The locomotive water tank is next to the building in the centre; the railway toilet is in the foreground; a windmill stand is behind some houses to the rear.

Don:
A great view of Old Bennett Street coming right up to the station.

Darwin Station Operated 1889 to 1975. You can check out the location on the link below:

Posted 30-March 2022

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Photo from the Darwin 1914-1916 Collection
http://hdl.handle.net/10070/1156 ’Swimming Carnival (General View)’

Darwin may have a lot of water but sadly it’s difficult to go swimming in the crocodile, box jellyfish, and shark-infested waters. Before swimming pools became commonplace, Darwin had ocean baths along the harbour foreshore. The first was the Fort Hill Baths, a wooden railing enclosure that would become completely exposed during low tide. Built-in 1880, the baths were home to water sports races such as rowing and canoeing.This photograph was taken in 1915 during Darwin’s first swimming carnival which began during the First World War. Reuben Cooper, perhaps more known for his footy skills, was also a talented swimmer and went on to win the carnival. The baths were destroyed during a cyclone in 1919.

Don:
This was at Fort Hill which no longer exists.
A few guesses on location could be made by looking at the aerial map:

Posted 31-March 2022

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Photo Source: N/A

Don:
Looks like Peel and Cavenagh Street corner nearest the aircraft, and Government House down the other corner, with Fort Hill beyond that.
Bennett Street is very hard to pick, but you can see it up past the Vic Hotel in Smith Street.
Woods Street just misses out on photo bombing this picture.

Posted 1-April 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/433675
Copyright owner:  Library & Archives NT  
Collection: Leisure Activities, Darwin c1950

Description:
Group of women standing by a car ready for golf.

Don:
The old golf course in 1950 was at Fannie Bay, actually on what is now Lake Alexander.
Does anyone know who these young ladies are?

Posted 2-April 2022

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Image Source: N/A

View illustrating the Northern Territory Survey Expedition, led by George W. Goyder, 1868-70, at the main camp, with Fort Hill on the left.

Goyder Park commemorates Goyder’s Camp, which is of historical significance as the first settlement within Port Darwin from which would grow the modern city of Darwin.

Posted 3-April 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/736354

Photo Source: N/A

Don:
I had a look at this image, and it looked almost like just a paddock until I did some serious investigation. All I had was the title of the photo and no other details.

It converted OK and came up as a good colourised conversion, but I only had a remote idea where it was.

All of a sudden the whole thing fell into place. I have been looking at this view for years but in another time zone. Well actually, another century.

I have been staying on the 15th floor of the ZEN apartments at 6 Carey Street for 2 or 3 months every year for a number of years now, and this was my view of Darwin.

You catch a glimpse of the Railway Yards on the left. It just misses the station at the end of Bennett Street.

A little across is the intersection of Bennett and McMinn Streets.

Railway Hill Road (now Carey Street) runs off McMinn Street. This is more a system of bush tracks than an actual road.

Opposite Carey Street is Foelsche Street, and on either side of this spot, are two houses. Lots 183 and 185 in old speak.

I believe this is the previously not photographed Sixth Police Station and the Police Station Barracks of 1942. In fact, after examining other data and images, I am now convinced that this is the case. Which is the Station and which are the Barracks? Doesn't really matter.

Both were vacant houses after the initial 1942 bombing. They are there in 1944 and 1948 aerial images.

Posted 5-April 2022

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Photo Source: https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/804065

Aerial photo of Stokes Hill in 1962 with the town behind. Annotated with the Railway infrastructure. This is an example of the images that can be seen if you visit the Road Masters House (Stella Maris) museum on McMinn Street.

Posted 6-April 2022

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Photo Source: Jill Kinang

Don:
To get some bearings, the intersection of Cavenaugh and Bennett Streets is almost in the middle of this photograph.

This means Woods Street is just a jumble of dirt tracks, and McMinn Street only exists at the port end past Bennett.

McMinn street can be seen running down to the Railway Yards which must have been the main road to the station.

Later Bennett Street was extended straight through to the rear of the station.

The changes between the 30s and 40s are very extensive. I would imagine the defence forces "top end" build-up to WWII, would have escalated these changes.

Posted 7-April 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/322171
Phyllis Moyle Collection. ;

Description:
Hurtle and Pat Bald & their children Iris and Peter at Rapid Creek.

Don:
Mrs Alice Bald is referred to in this description as Pat. Was this a Nickname?

Three members of the Bald family, all Post Office staff, were killed on the 19-Feb-1942 during the first Japanese bombing of Darwin.

Quoting NT Police Museum:
"A bomb scored a direct hit from on the bomb shelter and slit trench outside the office where Postmaster Hurtle took cover with his wife and daughter as well as other telephonists. In all 10 people were killed at the Post Office including Postmaster Hurtle Bald, his wife Alice, his daughter Iris, Archibald "Bro Halls, Eileen and Jean Mullen, "Fay" Stasinowski, Arthur Wellington, Emily Young and Walter Rowling who later died from injuries aboard the hospital ship Manunda."

The Post Office story is possibly best told on the NT Police Museum site.

Footnote:
Constable Eric (Sandy) McNab, a senior ranking Police officer at the time, was awarded the British Empire Medal for his actions after the first raid.  

Posted 8-April 2022

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Photo Source: State Library of Victoria.

Chinatown Pine Creek 1911
(renamed from Chinatown Cavenagh St Darwin)

There has been an ongoing discussion regarding the location of this photograph. I know I had trouble trying to convince myself that this was Darwin, and many members strongly suggested it wasn't.

Members that I more than respected their opinions. So I was about to fold and remove the story and the image. Then along came some other respected opinions on the opposite team. What a dilemma.

It was also suggested that it was Litchfield Street and not Cavenagh. I had a look at every aerial photo I had of that area, but couldn't find anything that remotely resembled this image.

The likes, comments, and shares built up quickly on both Darwin-History, and Old-Darwin Facebook Groups, so I felt it would be simply unfair to delete the story. I really needed to follow through and draw a conclusion.

Is there a moral to this story? Sure! Try to get a title, a date, an image reference if available, and a description, with every historical photo you post to Facebook. I know that isn't going to happen, but I'll try harder in future.

Leigh McKinnon came up with what started as a memory regrading this image, and followed through with strong evidence that it had been taken at Pine Creek. There are two very similar images referenced. The descriptive text also strongly suggests that this is indeed Pine Creek. I have added Leigh's evidence to this post, so that readers can judge for themselves.

Leigh McKinnon:
It's image no. 134, which is captioned 'Two Chinatown Street Scenes'. The context would suggest that it is Pine Creek.

From 'A Collection of Images of the Northern Territory' by James Pinkerton Campbell. Image is at bottom left. 

Posted 9-April 2022

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Military Photograph: 26-April-1944

Top left: Gilruth Ave and Gardens Road Mindil Beach. Top right: Westralia Street Stuart Park.
Bottom left: Esplanade Bend. Bottom right: Stokes Hill.

This is basically the top half of the Darwin CBD map that goes way up past Daly Street and well into Stuart Park on the highway.

Aerial images, street overlays and high resolution images, click on the link below:

The main Darwin Map can be seen at the link below:

Posted 10-April 2022

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Photo Source: Jill Kinang

Railway Yards Frances Bay 1965
The railway yards at Frances Bay circa 1965. Darwin Railway station can be seen in the distance. This would have been taken from about where the McMinn Street - Frances Bay Drive roundabout is today.

Posted 11-April 2022

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Photographer: Foelsche, P. (Paul), 1831-1914
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/438629

Description:
The Hospital and Chinaman's Garden 1876. View looking north-west toward the hospital with Lameroo Beach at left and the Chinese market gardens in the foreground. Doctor's Gully.

Hospital sitting on what is Larrakeyah Terrace today.

1887 map showing the location of the hospital.

Posted 12-April 2022

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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/744266
Carl E. Schultz Collection ;

Description:Howard Springs Road, 18 miles from Darwin, 3rd crossing. Early model car, registration no.50, crossing muddy creek, in the bush. 3 men are in the car one standing alongside.

Don:
I have always googled "cars, models, and years" if I didn't know firsthand what they were.

I'll leave this one to the members that enjoy doing this sort of thing.It looks like two logs have been placed into position to indicate where the safest crossing is.

Posted 13-April 2022

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Photographer: Buscall, J. C.
Collection: Buscall Collection ;

As advised by Kerry Mark:
Title and Description updated from:
Curio Cottage Garage. Toy Cars Outside 1939
is now:
Jack Buscall brother's house. Charters Towers QLD. 1939.

Three of the four toy cars are based on the 1933-34 B Model Ford. I had a real one many years ago.

Kerry Mark 14-April 2022. New Description.
Sometimes when I see mistakes on theses old photos I have shared it frustrates me…I shared this..surely I did not put that I’d on it. It WAS taken in 1939 BUT it was taken at Jacks brothers house in Charters Towers Queensland. I don’t recall what info I posted with this picture but who ever placed it with the above info needs to change the info. The four children are all Buscalls…the two in the middle are JCBuscall ‘s grandchildren from his daughter Jean who lived with him with these two children at Curio Cottage and who had died three months before this photo was taken. So many of my photos have crazy id’s.

Kerry Mark
My great grandfather J C Buscall (whom I am constantly told was a villain, lousy with his money etc etc, sent his brother a lot of money to purchase “…anything you need or the boys want and include your kiddies”. ….the cars were one such gift he had shipped to them in Charters Towers via Townsville. The child on the left is John Buscall who moved to Darwin as an adult and lived at the 14 Mile…his wife name is Betty…May Buscall is the girl on right at back.

Posted 14-April 2022

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