Sydney | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Sydney

Showing 1 - 4 of 4 results
1904 camera

Harold Cazneaux's first camera, 1904, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-141166704

Harold Cazneaux (1878–1953) was perhaps Australia's best-known photographer of the early twentieth century. He purchased this camera in 1904, shortly after moving from Adelaide to Sydney, and made photographs of Sydney's streets and waterways.

In 1909 he became the first Australian photographer to exhibit his works in a solo show.

Cazneaux was a master of the pictorialist style of photography, using soft focus to capture scenes that were - and remain - familiar to many Australians in a new light. He was able to find a timeless, extraordinary beauty in the everyday.

Cazneaux collection

A large collection of glass negatives, papers and photographs dating mostly from 1904 to 1940 depicting many aspects of Australian life and architecture.

Collection guide
Black and white photo of a large ship in a harbour

N.S.S. (Nautical School Ship) Sobraon near Cockatoo Island, NRS-4481-3-[7/16268]-St1095, Museums of History NSW

The floating boarding school on the Parramatta River

Learn about the real school ship Sobraon behind Sarah Luke and NLA Publishing's children's book Marion and the Forty Thieves.

Blog
Collection guide
Wilson Collection

Drawings, sketches, plans and photographs of Australian colonial architecture, ancient buildings from China and Greece, furnature designs and sketches for a proposed "ideal city" of Kurrajong.

Collection guide
Collection guide
Ellison Collection

Personal papers of Norman Ellison, pictures, books and other other manuscripts relating to aviation and early aviators. 

Collection guide

Need help?

Our librarians are here to guide you.

Ask a librarian