POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Photograph of the construction of approach to Central Station

Photograph of the construction of approach to Central Station

Object No. 87/1353-6

This print is one of an important series of photographs commissioned by the Department of Public Works. As a group they document the construction of the Sydney City Underground Railway and the Sydney Harbour Bridge between 1922 and 1932. Building a bridge to link the city of Sydney with the North Shore was first suggested by Francis Greenway in 1825, however it would be nearly 100 years before the first competitive designs and tenders were accepted. On 18 July 1913 a New South Wales Committee approved the design of a bridge from Dawes Point to Milson's Point and in 1921 tenders were finally called. Chief Engineer John Bradfield oversaw this massive project through to its opening in 1932. The Powerhouse Museum's collection of 191 photographic prints provides a good overview of the significant phases of this massive infrastructure project. Geoff Barker, Curatorial, October, 2012 References: J. Bradfield, 'Speeches', 1932 F.H. Greenway, 'Letter', The Australian, 28 April 1825

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Summary

Object Statement

Photographic print, construction of approach to Central Station for underground railway, silver / gelatin / paper, photograph by the New South Wales Department of Public Works, printed by Alfred James Kent, Government Printer, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1923

Physical Description

Landscape format black and white photographic image depicting a stage in the construction of the Sydney Underground Railway. This image depicts Central Station and the construction of railway looking South. It also shows Elizabeth Street and Belmore Park.

DIMENSIONS

Height

163 mm

Width

215 mm

PRODUCTION

Notes

This photographic print is thought to have been made under the supervision of A. J. Kent, New South Wales Government Printer, between 1923 and 1943. It is one of 191 taken from the original negatives produced as a part of the Public Works Department program to document the various stages of the construction of the City Railway and Sydney Harbour Bridge. All the original images were taken between 1922 and 1932. While individual photographs were taken by different photographers, they all worked under the supervision of Robert Bowden, at the Public Works Department. References: 'Mr. A. J. Kent Appointed', The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 March, 1923 'Death of Mr. A. J. Kent', 14, August, 1943 Prints and Printmaking: Australia | Asia | Pacific (website) http://www.printsandprintmaking.gov.au/catalogues/bibliography/629606/author-not-identified-death-of-exgovernment-printe.aspx

SOURCE

Acquisition Date

19 October 1987

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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