POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Glass plate negative, 'Aboriginal fisheries, Darling River', part of the Tyrrell collection

Glass plate negative, 'Aboriginal fisheries, Darling River', part of the Tyrrell collection

Object No. 85/1286-721

Aboriginal people who live in the Brewarrina region of NSW are custodians of an intricate series of stone fish traps across the Barwon River. The traps form a complex net of linked weirs and ponds along 500 metres of the river. They operate at varying water heights and can be altered to suit seasonal changes. People use their expert knowledge of fish species and the environment to maximise their catch. It is believed that Ngemba, Wonkamurra, Wailwan and Gamilaroi people have shared and maintained the traps for thousands of years. The glass plate negative from which this image is produced was taken by Charles Kerry who was, in 1890, appointed official photographer to the Governor of New South Wales, Lord Carrington. In addition to portrait photography, Kerry photographed street scenes, parades, race meeting, cricket matches, rural scenes and sailing on Sydney Harbour. In 1895, Kerry began travelling around the colony photographing squatter's land, homesteads, families and livestock. By 1898, Kerry was sufficiently successful to have a purpose built studio on George Street, Sydney. Sandra McEwen Curator, Biotechnologies 2008

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Summary

Object Statement

Glass plate negative, full plate, 'Aboriginal fisheries, Darling River', unattributed studio, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1880-1923

Physical Description

A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. A silver gelatin dry plate glass negative in landscape format. The image shows fish traps in a section of the Darling River. The fish traps consist of low stone walls constructed on the river bed. The walls are arranged to form cul de sacs that trap the fish. The Tyrrell Collection Inventory records the above caption but does not attribute the negative to a studio. 75/505 Tyrrell Inventory Number, 75 Studio Number

DIMENSIONS

Width

215 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

This glass plate negative is part of the Tyrrell Collection and is not attributed to a studio. This negative is not attributed to a particular studio. The Tyrrell Collection of glass plate negatives dates from approximately 1880-1923.

HISTORY

Notes

This glass plate negative is part of the Tyrrell Collection, acquired by James Robert Tyrrell for Tyrrell's Bookshop in the early 1930s. The Tyrrell collection was acquired by Australian Consolidated Press in 1980.

SOURCE

Acquisition Date

17 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.

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