Summary

One of approximately 3,000 negatives from the Payens Collection taken by Jim Payens, the Melbourne based aerial photographer. The images span the period predominantly between the 1950s - 1970s.

Jim Payens was one of a very small number of Australian photographers to have specialised in oblique and survey aerial photography. He was also one of the earliest Australian aerial photographers. This collection consists predominantly of aerial views of the city of Melbourne, surrounding suburbs and regional Victoria but also extends to other parts of Australia. The Collection depicts a variety of landmark events and major engineering projects throughout Australia including the Australian Grand Prix, Olympic Games (Melbourne & Sydney) and the construction of Eildon Weir.

The Museum also holds the aerial camera and equipment used by Payens to take these images as well as an oral history interview with the photographer.

Description of Content

Oblique aerial photograph of the suburb of Carlton looking south from Pelham Street and showing the area bounded by Rathdowne, Victoria and Swanston Streets. Beyond this is Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay. In the foreground Carlton Gardens and part of the Royal Exhibition Building with its western annexe can be seen in the bottom left corner. Carlton Bowling Club (now Argyle Square) can be seen in the bottom right corner. Further in, the State Library of Victoria is visible on the corner of Swanston and La Trobe Streets and the Russell Street Police Headquarters is behind it on the corner of Russell and La Trobe Streets. On the opposite corner is the Melbourne Magistrates' Court (now Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, Building 20). Further down La Trobe Street is The Argus Building on the corner of La Trobe and Elizabeth Streets.

Physical Description

negative; black and white; silver gelatin; cellulose acetate.

More Information