VII. Unknown Australian official war photographer.

Coaling a troop ship.

Sepia-tone gelatin silver print mounted on board; 88 x 122 cm. Minor edge wear; verso annotated AWM 1820 / S 12. (Title from Christie’s sale catalogue).

Mammoth-size photograph originally made for an exhibition staged at the Sydney Town Hall, 4 March - 15 April 1922, Official War Photographs: Exhibition of Enlargements.

These dramatic enlargements of images taken in World War One by various Australian official war photographers - probably including Frank Hurley - were made using a state-of-the-art process and were remarkable for their time. The display covered a total of 14,000 feet of wall space, and was enthusiastically viewed by an enthralled public that was still eager to see what the war looked like through Australian eyes, and keen to support the establishment of war memorials in towns across the country.

The following notice appeared in The Sun (Sydney), 6 March 1922:

WAR PHOTOGRAPHS: The collection of official war photographs which the Australian War Museum has assembled at the Town Hall Basement was opened to the public on Saturday, and attracted several thousand persons. The photographs illustrate every phase of the doings of the Australian Imperial Force abroad, but the authorities have been careful to avoid stressing the gruesome. This exhibition will remain open for the next few weeks, with both day and night sessions. All proceeds are to be devoted to War Memorials.

Provenance: All nine photographs offered here were produced by the Australian War Museum (Melbourne), prior to its official opening to the public on Anzac Day 1922; they were acquired at auction by the previous owner, photographic historian and collector Joyce Evans OAM, from Christie’s, Australian and European Paintings, Prints and Photographs, Melbourne, 6-7 December 1994.