Memories on Glass: the Macpherson family collection

Extraordinary images of late 19th and early 20th century Sydney in transition, captured by the Macpherson family over a 50-year period.

PAST EXHIBITION

Exhibition

Saturday 6 October 2018 to Sunday 5 May 2019

Today
1. 9 am to 5 pm
Tomorrow
1. 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday
1. 9 am to 8 pm
Friday
1. 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday
1. 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday
1. 10 am to 5 pm
Monday
1. 9 am to 5 pm

Admission: Free

Download exhibition guide

Location

Exhibition Galleries

State Library of New South Wales

Macquarie Street

Sydney

NSW

2000

Australia

Plan your visit

Memories on Glass: the Macpherson family collection

Extraordinary images of late 19th and early 20th century Sydney in transition, captured by the Macpherson family over a 50-year period. The recently acquired Macpherson photonegative collection provides a rare personal record of one Australian family’s life and the world around them. Over 70 images, including original glass-plate negatives, will be on public display for the first time.

A family's memories, captured on glass.

Photograph of blue latex gloved hands, holding a glass plate negative. — A Library conservator holds one of the Macpherson glass plate negatives, during the exhibition documentation process.

Black and white photograph of family sitting on the grass next to a sandstone homestead. — **Macpherson group (right) with the Samora family (left), Warringah Lodge, North Cremorne, c 1886**
c 1886
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/Boxes 1-6
Digital ID:
c071770002
View collection item detail

Black and white photograph of a man with an old camera on a tripod photographing a site where whale bones lie on the ground. — **Edward Hume Macpherson photographing whale processing works at Cascade Bay, Norfolk Island, c 1904**
c 1904
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/Boxes 7-28
Digital ID:
c071670001
View collection item detail

A black and white photograph of a crowded beach. Most people are fully clothed in 19th Century dress. — **Beach scene, with man in bowler hat and tram on horizon, Bondi, c 1900**
c 1900
Call # ON 588/BOX 02/10
Digital ID:
c071150010
View collection item detail

Black and white photograph of a cascading waterfall. A man sits on a rock in the foreground. — **Waterfall cascade, with [Macpherson] male seated on rock, c 1905**
c 1905
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/Boxes 7-28
Digital ID:
c071850013
View collection item detail

Black and white photograph of tall ships moored in a harbour. — **East Circular Quay, looking south to tall-masted ships, wharves, and Hill, Clark & Co wool store, 1890**
c 1890
William Joseph Macpherson
Call # ON 588/BOX 02/13
Digital ID:
c071150013
View collection item detail

Meet the curator

Photographic portrait of a red haired smiling woman, wearing glasses.

Margot Riley

Margot has curated numerous exhibitions and displays for the Library and contributes expertise across a variety of collection functions including research, acquisition and interpretation. She is a cultural historian with a special interest in popular culture, photography and dress and has written and lectured extensively about the Library's collections.