Photographic negatives of Brisbane, 1954 Rockhampton floods, the migrant ship Fairsea and other subjects

One roll of negatives containing 26 black and white images showing a voyage of the migrant ship Fairsea from Europe to Australia.  Originally named Rio de la Plato, the Fairsea was built in the USA as a passenger freighter and launched in 1941. During World War Two the ship was handed over to the U.S. Navy and converted to an aircraft carrier under the name HMS Charger.

The Fairsea, was contracted by the International Refugee Organisation and from 1949 to 1951 made several journeys to Australia including three voyages between Naples and Melbourne, carrying refugees and displaced persons. It is likely that these photographs were taken on one of those trips. The images show the port in Naples and passengers on board the ship during the voyage.

One roll of negatives containing 17 colour images showing centenary celebrations at Nundah in Brisbane in 1938. The festivities shown took place in April of 1938 and celebrated 100 years since German missionaries first arrived in the area. The images show large crowds, a street parade and parade floats, Nundah State School, street views, sports field and railway station.

The photographs were taken using Dufaycolor film. Dufaycolor introduced roll film for colour snapshots in 1935 and as such was one of the first commercially available colour photograph film. Dufaycolor reached Australia in the mid to late 1930s. These photographs, taken in 1938, are among the earliest identified colour photographs of Queensland in the State Library of Queensland collection.

One roll of negatives containing 18 colour images showing centenary celebrations at Nundah in Brisbane in 1938. The festivities shown took place in April of 1938 and celebrated 100 years since German missionaries first arrived in the area. The images show large crowds, a street parade and parade floats, Nundah State School, street views, sports field and railway station.

The photographs were taken using Dufaycolor film. Dufaycolor introduced roll film for colour snapshots in 1935 and as such was one of the first commercially available colour photograph film. Dufaycolor reached Australia in the mid to late 1930s. These photographs, taken in 1938, are among the earliest identified colour photographs of Queensland in the State Library of Queensland collection.

One roll of negatives containing 19 colour images showing centenary celebrations at Nundah in Brisbane in 1938. The festivities shown took place in April of 1938 and celebrated 100 years since German missionaries first arrived in the area. The images show large crowds, a street parade and parade floats, Nundah State School, street views, sports field and railway station.

The photographs were taken using Dufaycolor film. Dufaycolor introduced roll film for colour snapshots in 1935 and as such was one of the first commercially available colour photograph film. Dufaycolor reached Australia in the mid to late 1930s. These photographs, taken in 1938, are among the earliest identified colour photographs of Queensland in the State Library of Queensland collection.

One roll of negatives containing 30 black and white images showing flooding in Rockhampton in 1954.

One roll of negatives containing containing 18 colour images showing Brisbane scenes ca.1938. Included are views of the centre of Brisbane CBD, Botanic Gardens, Victoria Bridge, Parliament House, Brisbane River and a Salvation Army band performing in front of the People’s Palace.  

One roll of negatives containing containing 19 colour images showing Brisbane scenes ca.1938. Included are views over Brisbane from Mt Coot-tha.  

Miscellaneous singular negatives including views of Brisbane from Mt Coot-Tha; Aboriginal people at unidentified locations including an a group gathered around an Inland Mission vehicle; Melanesian people at unidentified locations, probably Papua New Guinea; photographs taken in Africa and Asia; and miscellaneous images.