Exhibition Archive

Box Camera

Photographs from the Museum of Lillydale Collection, 3 Dec - 9 April 2006

Featuring original prints taken with the box style camera. The box camera, especially the Box Brownie, revolutionised photography because it was simple to operate and inexpensive to buy as well as separated the process of developing photographs from the camera giving every person access to document moments from their own lives and history. The box style camera produced a box full of memories.

The exhibition features snapshots of Dame Nellie Melba at her home in Coombe Cottage including some photographs taken by her gardener. Also featured is snapshot photographer Ernestine Lobb who was the school teacher at Gruyere South State School and documented moments from school life, working life on an orchard and the occurrence of World War II. Part of the novelty of the exhibition is the chance to see the original, often tiny, images which have been made with no pretensions.