Summary

One of a subset of 5 black and white negatives taken of Victoria Dock (now Melbourne Docklands).

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 Victoria Dock (now Melbourne Docklands) looking south from Footscray Road showing the area bounded by Spencer Street (now Southern Cross) railway yard, Clarendon Street and Canterbury Road. Beyond this area is Port Phillip Bay showing St Kilda Harbour. In the foreground are nine ships in the dock and another six behind it in the Yarra River. Between the river and dock are two gasometers, among many other industrial buildings. On the south side of the river is the industrial area of South Melbourne and in the background is Albert Park Lake.

Physical Description

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

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