Robert Watson, a local researcher, and member of the University’s Hunter Living Histories Initiative team, recently identified a number of images taken from acclaimed photographer Ralph Snowball on glass negatives, which were not necessarily taken at the same time, but as they appeared to be taken from the same high vantage point attempted to create a panorama from them. They are not perfectly matched, but provide a wider view of the area around Wickham (N.S.W.). For more information on Ralph Snowball see: https://uoncc.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/windows-to-another-time-ralph-snowballs-glass-negatives/
The original images are sourced from the following:
- GONINANS (c1890) Looking south towards Merewether
Made from these two Snowball images:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/3307228081/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/4168412808/
- HUDSONS (at Wickham) and BULLOCK ISLAND RAILWAY JUNCTION nr Islington, looking east towards Nobbys (c1890) Panorama_1
Made from these two Snowball images:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/3307228387/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/4044472307/
- HUDSONS (at Wickham) and BULLOCK ISLAND RAILWAY JUNCTION nr Islington, looking east towards Nobbys (c1890) Panorama_2
Note: The left hand side is the same in this panorama as previous one
Made from these two Snowball images:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/3307228387/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/3306865829/
In these photographs can be identified the Leading Lights, masts of tall ships, water tower at Strezlecki Point, Merewether’s ‘The Ridge’, the Wood St brewery, the “hidden” church opposite Dairy Farmers corner, the Clyde Windmill and various tall chimneys.
Gionni Di Gravio
9 August 2018
I compiled this panorama several years ago, with a third image added on the left – see https://flic.kr/p/sNw18f
a panorama of Goninans Foundry at Wickham (foreground) with Newcastle in the background. (higher resolution version)
The panorama is 3 photos by Ralph Snowball, taken from the tower at the Wickham Fire Station in Albert Street. The road through the foreground centre of the image is Foundry Street, with Greenway Street in front of the Goninans buildings.
The glass plate negatives for the centre and right photos are in the University of Newcastle archive.
[ http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/4168412808/ ]
[ http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/3307233403/ ]
(there are 4 slightly different versions of this image)
The left image is scanned from p59 of “With Camera Horse and Wagonette”, a compilation of Snowball photos by Bert Lovett and Norm Barney. I don’t know where the negative is.
The photo on page 58, of Albert Street Wickham, was also take in 1906, from the same vantage point, but may not be part of this panorama – if it is there is one photo missing
Alfred Goninan started business with his firm A.Goninan & Co Limited in 1899. So the photo cannot be titled circa 1890