AIM: to examine two examples of objects or images that I think represent an important aspect of Australian culture
1) Tram and crowds, probably George Street, circa 1960
This is one of about 100 back-lit black and white photographs that adorn a feature wall at the NAA. It appears that it is either before or after work with the crowds. The tram is destined for Central Railway. Before 1961, trams were probably the most used form of public transport and they were only removed because the roads couldn't cope with the increase in cars. So back then it was very Sydney (still is very Melbourne). The cloths that the men & women wore were of that era too. Men in suits and often in a hat, and the women in a skirt or frock which fell to just below the knee. No one went to town without being dressed in this 'uniform'. One could argue that this scene could well be San Francisco with the tram (that city is usually hilly), but when it is placed in combination with all the other photos on the wall, it is quintessentially Australian. Although it is just a moment in time, there is no posing in the photo, it is just an aspect of daily life in Sydney c1960.
2) Corner of London Circuit and Northbourne Avenue, Canberra 1946 (Photographer: Max Dupain)
These two buildings, the Melbourne and Sydney buildings were built in mainly 1926-27, so in this photo, only 20 years old. The north-west corner of the Sydney bulding was copleted in about 1946. In the early days the Commonwealth bank was in the Sydney corner (left) and Snow's, the first general store in Civic, was in the opposite corner, in the Melbourne building (corner just out of sight on the right). If one sees a photo of these buildings, it reads 'that is Canberra' and along with Old Parliament House, they were the only two buildings that 'identified' Canberra at that time. They are still very much part of our identity, although quite run down now and no longer the 'centre' of Canberra City.
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