POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Relaxing by the Macdonnell's private observatory 'Gardonal'

Object No. P3549-4

This photograph is a copy from an original rare print of a group of well-known Australian amateur astronomers in front of the Macdonnell's observatory in the Sydney suburb of Mosman. The original of negative appears to have been taken around 1907 but this photograph is of a much later date being a copy of a print from that negative. Macdonnell was one of four amateur astronomers invited by H.C. Russell to take part in the 1874 Transit of Venus. As a result his portrait appears in the Powerhouse Museum's collection in two other formats. The first is in H.C. Russell's 1892 publication 'Observations of the Transit of Venus, 9 December, 1874; made at Stations in New South Wales', the second is on a glass plate composite negative used to make the frontispiece to this book. Macdonnell was a member of the Astronomical Section of the Royal Society of New South Wales from its inception in 1876. He was also a member of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1873 until the 1890s. While only a copy of an original print this image remains a significant portrait of some of the amateurs who played an important role in shaping Australia's early scientific history. The whereabouts of any original prints remains unknown and this copy serves as a significant placeholder for the astronomers and the observatory captured in this photograph. Geoff Barker, Assistant Curator, Total Asset Management Project, January 2008 Andrew Jacob, Curator, May 2022 References Haynes, Raymond, Haynes, Roslynn, Malin, David, McGee, Richard, Explorers of the Southern Sky, Cambridge University Press, 1996 Holland, J., 'Microscopical Discoveries', Macleay Museum Newsletter, Issue 2, 2004, p.5 Orchiston, W., William John Macdonnell and the development of astronomy in New South Wales, Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol.111, no.1, p.13-25 Russell, H., C., Observations of the Transit of Venus, 9 December, 1874; made at Stations in New South Wales, Charles Potter, Government Printer, 1892

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Summary

Object Statement

Photograph, black and white print, part of collection, group of people in front of the Macdonnell's 'Gardonal' private observatory, paper, photographer unknown, Mosman, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1907, used at the Sydney Observatory, New South Wales, Australia, 1907-1979

Physical Description

Photographic print, W. J. Macdonnell, Mrs. Macdonnell, Nathanial Basnett, and G. D. Hirst in front of a private observatory 1907, paper / silver gelatine, Mosman, Sydney, Australia, 1920-1950, used at Sydney Observatory, Sydney, New South Wales Australia A black and white photograph showing a three men and a woman outside a small circular observatory building. The woman and one man are seated on chairs, another man stands while the third man sits on the ground. The door to the observatory is open and the telescope inside can be seen. There is a parrot on the shoulder of the seated woman and another can be seen on her lap. A paling fence can be seen behind the observatory.

DIMENSIONS

Height

150 mm

Width

103 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

The photograph was taken in Mosman, New South Wales, in December 1907.

HISTORY

Notes

The original photgraph was taken in Mosman, New South Wales, Australia in approximately 1907.

SOURCE

Acquisition Date

12 September 1984

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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