Summary

One of a subset of 21 negatives taken of South Melbourne, Fitzroy and Collingwood.

This subset is part of approximately 3,000 negatives taken by Jim Payens, the Melbourne based aerial photographer, and form part of the Payens Collection. 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 Fitzroy looking south-west from Oxford Street showing the area bounded by Smith, Gertrude, Nicholson and Webb Streets. In the middle of the image is Atherton Gardens Estate, the high-rise public housing site. It shows one partially completed building and the foundations of two more. In the background is the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens. The Uniting Church in Australia is visible in front of the estate. In the foreground Paterson's furnitiure warehouse can be seen on the west side of Smith Street.

Physical Description

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

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