Photograph of ferry 'Koree' on Mosman Bay, Sydney
Object No. 85/1284-524
This image from a glass plate negative, produced between 1902 and 1917, shows Mosman Bay and Curraghbeena Point near Mosman on the north shore of Sydney Harbour. The image is taken from Cremorne Point looking east to Curraghbeena Point. On the left is the roof of a large house which was known as Laurels Guesthouse after World War II. In the immediate foreground is a public path which runs from near the Mosman wharf to near the Cremorne Point ferry wharf. The steam ferry 'Koree' is heading from Old Cremorne wharf (obscured) towards Musgrave Street wharf on Curraghbeena Point. Fenced footpaths zig zag up from the wharf to streets in the suburb of Mosman. The 'Koree' ferry commenced service in 1902, a double-ended steamer 141 feet (43 metres) in length she could carry 1080 passengers. The ferry was retired and broken up in 1934. To the right of the ferry is a small wooden trading ketch. It has reduced sail and is ghosting (sailing gently in light wind), probably towards the ferry wharf. The ketch seems to have a crew of one and is carrying a load of timber logs, probably firewood. To the right of Musgrave Street wharf is a smaller wharf which was the original one. Large and expensive houses dominate the point. At the far right is Bradley's Head. In Athol Bight to the right are two moored cargo ships. One is a steamer, probably owned by Ellerman's City Line, and the other is a three-masted barque. Graeme Andrews OAM, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences volunteer under the supervision of Margaret Simpson, Curator, August 2015. This photographic negative was published by the Sydney firm Charles Kerry & Co. and is part of the Powerhouse Museum's Tyrrell collection which contains over 2,900 glass plate negatives by Kerry & Co. Although a few appear to be from the 1880s most were produced between 1892 and 1917. Over this period, and well into the early 1900s, prints from these negatives appeared in many Australian publications and albums of views. In 1903 the company began producing postcards from these negatives, further establishing the images as some of the most significant and best known early views of New South Wales. Some of the more significant themes covered by the collection include; views of New South Wales, Queensland, country towns, Sydney, Indigenous Australians, the South Pacific, rural life, native flora and fauna, and sentimental views. In addition a number of significant events from the 1900s are covered by the collection including; embarkation of troops for the Boer War, Hordens fire, the Inauguration of the Commonwealth in 1901, the arrival of the Great White Fleet and the Burns verses Johnson boxing match at Rushcutters Bay in 1908. Geoff Barker, Curatorial, January, 2009 References Newton, Gael, Shades of Light; Photography and Australia 1839 - 1988, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1988 David, Millar, Charles Kerry's Federation Australia, Sydney, David Ell Press, 1981 Tyrrell, James, Australian Aboriginal and South Sea Islands Implements, Weapons and Curios, James Tyrrell, Sydney, 1929
Loading...
Summary
Object Statement
Glass plate negative, full plate, entitled 'The Point, Mosman', depicting the steam ferry 'Koree' on Mosman Bay, Sydney Harbour, Kerry and Co, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1902-1917
Physical Description
Silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image depicts Mosman Bay and Curraghbeena Point near Mosman on the north shore of Sydney. The image is taken from Cremorne Point looking east to Curraghbeena Point. Cremorne Point is depicted in the foreground of the image and a house can be partially seen in the foreground on the left side of the image. Mosman Bay is depicted in the centre of the image. A two-masted sailing ship can be seen on the bay in the centre left of the image, a small row boat is attached to the ship via a rope. The 'Koree' ferry is depicted near the ship in the centre left of the image. The 'Koree' is probably travelling from the Old Cremorne Wharf to the Musgrave Street Wharf in Mosman. Curraghbeena Point is depicted in the background of the image. The Musgrave Street Wharf can be seen on Curraghbeena Point and fenced walkways can be seen going from the wharf up an incline to streets in Mosman. Numerous residential buildings can be seen in the background of the image. Bradleys Head is depicted in the far background of the image. Two large cargo steamers can be seen on Sydney Harbour in the far background of the image. The caption, studio number and studio mark are inscribed on thereverse of the negative. The Koree ferry commenced service in 1902. The double-ended steamer was 141 feet in length and was capable of carrying 1080 passengers. The ferry was retired and broken up in 1934. 1/200 Tyrrell Inventory Number, 990 Kerry Studio Number
DIMENSIONS
Width
215 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Charles Kerry was born in 1858 and by 1885 was running a studio in partnership with C. D. Jones. This partnership lasted until 1892, when Charles became sole owner and changed the studio's name to Kerry and Co. By 1890 the company was employing a number of photographers who would become famous in their own right. George Bell who covered rural New South Wales was employed in 1890 and Harold Bradley was doing outdoor work and covering events around Sydney by 1899. Kerry continued to work in the field and in 1895 he took photographs of Royal National Park for New South Wales Government, photographed Queensland artesian bores and was employed by the New South Wales Government to travel the state and photograph Indigenous Australians. In 1897 Kerry led the first party to reach the summit of Mt Kosciuszko in winter conditions and photographed the Jenolan caves. By 1900 Kerry had turned his studio into one of the largest and most respected photographic establishments in the colony. His new four story premises at 310 George St were designed by the architect H. C. Kent and the third floor studios alone could accommodate 70 people wanting their portraits taken. In 1913 Kerry retired leaving the running of the studio to his nephew, unfortunately the business did not do well and Kerry and Co. closed its doors in 1917. Kerry himself died in 1928. Geoff Barker, Curatorial, January, 2009 References Newton, Gael, Shades of Light; Photography and Australia 1839 - 1988, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1988 David, Millar, Charles Kerry's Federation Australia, Sydney, David Ell Press, 1981 Tyrrell, James, Australian Aboriginal and South Sea Islands Implements, Weapons and Curios, James Tyrrell, Sydney, 1929
HISTORY
Notes
This photographic negative is one of 2900 Kerry & Co. photographs in the Powerhouse Museum's 'Tyrrell Collection' once owned by Sydney bookseller, James Tyrrell. Almost all of these negatives are 21.5 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 inch) glass plates and many of those now held by the Powerhouse Museum collection would have been used to create postcards. In addition to the Kerry & Co. Studio images, the Tyrrell Collection at the Powerhouse Museum includes glass plate negatives published by Henry King and a number of other negatives by unattributed photographers James Tyrrell used the images by Kerry & Co. and Henry King to produce his own booklets and views of New South Wales but although full of iconic Australian images, the collection does not appear to have been fully utilised by Tyrrell. In 1980 the collection was purchased by Australian Consolidated Press who published a limited series of 2000 contact prints from the collection. Housed in boxes copies of these were given to the State Library of New South Wales and the Macleay Museum at the University of Sydney. In 1985 Australian Consolidated Press donated the collection to the Powerhouse keeping a set of copy prints for themselves. The collection at this time consisted of 7,903 glass plate negatives and 7,916 contact positive prints. A further 2,500 Kerry & Co. negatives are held in the Macleay Museum at the University of Sydney, although these do not appear to have been acquired from Charles Kerry and Co. by Tyrrell. Geoff Barker, Curatorial, January, 2009 References Newton, Gael, Shades of Light; Photography and Australia 1839 - 1988, Australian National Gallery, Canberra, 1988 David, Millar, Charles Kerry's Federation Australia, Sydney, David Ell Press, 1981 Tyrrell, James, Australian Aboriginal and South Sea Islands Implements, Weapons and Curios, James Tyrrell, Sydney, 1929
SOURCE
Acquisition Date
19 July 1985
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
Image Licensing Enquiry
Object Enquiry