The Macpherson family lived in Sydney from 1833. As their prosperity grew through canny real estate investments over several generations, so did the symbols of their success — magnificent mansions and luxury pursuits such as boating, motoring, travel and photography. The Macphersons were keen photographers, enthusiastically recording their leisured lives, as well as the bush, the beach and strangers in the street. They captured the world around them before modernity and world war changed things forever.

Their collection of 688 glass-plate negatives was donated to the State Library in 2014.