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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Cell on Friday 24 June 11 14:32 BST (UK)

Title: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)COMPLETED
Post by: Cell on Friday 24 June 11 14:32 BST (UK)
Hi,
I picked this large  framed photo  up at a charity shop for just $7 ( in Brisbane) this week as I fell in love with it. It looks to me as if it was taken around the 40's( ?).
 I'm hoping to identify the place where it was taken. I think it maybe is  somewhere in Australia as  all the houses look to be made with wooden boards , fibro  and not brick  ( but I haven't totally ruled out anywhere  else either , like somewhere in  Britain, or surrounding countries - hence why I posted this in the common room and not on any one particular board - there is more traffic from all countries in the common room ) .

 I've sort of  ruled out Qld as it looks a bit too cold for up here ( although, having said that ,it had been raining - the road is wet and shiny) - I don't know of any bay that looks remotely like that photo up here in qld , also they are all wearing heavyish coats. I can not see  any boat names or any identifying markings under a magnifying glass (there are none).

I'm hoping someone who lives near this, or has been there  will automatically recognise it  as it has a very  a distinctive formation, curvature, including the view of the land across the bay that will still be there today of course, even if they have built up modern houses on it .

The  photo is approx 41cm wide by 32 ( it is mounted behind glass so without ripping the old backing paper off the back of the picture frame - I have no way to tell if there's a photographer's name on the bottom corner which is covered by the board.

My hubby has suggested it maybe somewhere around Newcastle, or somewhere around Port Stephens area - but I don't know. I can't recall anywhere down that way that looks remotely like this (we lived down that way for a year)

Here's hoping someone will recognise the place
Thank you for any help

(P.s the orange on the bottom of the pic  is just the  glare from the glass with my camera flash )
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: CarolA3 on Saturday 25 June 11 02:08 BST (UK)
Hi Cell,

I'd  rule out Qld too - overcoats and trilby hats??!!  Somewhere like The Rocks, Sydney could be more likely.  There is one clue on the boatshed just right of centre with the ramp going down; above the door it looks like the name 'WALSH' in upper case, perhaps a boatbuilding business?
The power poles and lines look quite archaic and the buildings, clothes, boats, and bicycles make me think it's pre-WWII.  Pity there aren't any women in sight - much easier to date our clothes.
Could you have another go at the orange blob area please?  That could be an old motorbike those guys are looking at, or it could just be wishful thinking on my part!

Best of luck,
Carol
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Saturday 25 June 11 02:48 BST (UK)
Hi there,

I don't think it would be The Rocks, Sydney, simply because that area had buildings from very early after settlement, densely settled in the 1840's, and Campbells Wharf and Bond Stores and also Unwins Wharehouses and Bond stores were well established before photography arrived.  Also there is NO obvious Cadman's Cottage in the photo, and no wharves for the emigrant ships at the quayside.  If it were The Rocks, then this photo would have been taken from about where Customs House still stands, and Circular Quay ought to have wharves in the photo, as well as the Campbell Wharves.

The Rocky Point in the photo would not be at The Rocks, (Dawes Point), for by the 1860's the stone masons had "hewed" away at that Sandstone and were at the Quarries at Pyrmont.   The Cliffs at The Rocks were steeper and were also used in the foundations of many of the buildings in Sydney Town.  The Argyle Cut was among the work undertaken by Convicts, and transportation of convicts to NSW had ceased in 1840's. 

I think (and could well be wrong) that Admiralty House, at Kirribilli, would have been noticed if this was Sydney Cove looking across towards the distance ...

Beautiful Photo, and I wish I had been one step ahead of you and spent my own $7.  Alas, I am not often in Qld.

It does remind me of the eastern seaboard coastal towns of NSW and I will pull my thinking cap down harder, and also ask some of my elderly rellies when I have a chance. 

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Saturday 25 June 11 02:52 BST (UK)
Ohhhhhhh....

My OH says it could be Freshwater, or Queenscliff, or the northern end of Manly  (ie North Shore of Sydney etc) ...

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: johnbshepherd on Saturday 25 June 11 03:13 BST (UK)
Could that be the mouth of the Hawkesbury river in the background?. That would place the photograph somewhere between BarrenJoey Head and Avalon on the Pacific side
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Saturday 25 June 11 03:17 BST (UK)
Aye, could well be,   

Do you think it would be sensible to ask for a Moderator to move this thread to the Aussie Board?

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Cell on Saturday 25 June 11 03:33 BST (UK)
Hi,
Thanks for all the replies, at least I have something to go on now. Under the orange blob - yes it's a motorbike . There is also a woman sitting on the seat of it   (she is seated side saddle style). She has a bow in the back of hair, and long dark clothing, white collar showing - it is really hard to see what she is wearing even under a magnifying glass as all the clothing  are dark colours  - looks like a long dark coat 

I'll have another go at it .

Majm, I thought it was a bargain at $7 too. It was hidden from most peoples sight   in an old cabinate for sale , it's just that I'm nosy and rummage everywhere so it didn't get past me  ;D

thank you  :)

Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Saturday 25 June 11 03:37 BST (UK)
Hi,

Another alternative would be to start two new threads with a link in each, coming back to this thread ....

One on the Photo Dating board to get an idea of the decade etc
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?board=298.0

One on the Aussie Board to have help with a possible location
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?board=165.0


Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Saturday 25 June 11 04:13 BST (UK)
This is a link to the NSW State Records Office online site for "Photo Investigator" .... many (many many many actually) wonderful photos there !

http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/asp/photosearch/introduction.htm

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Saturday 25 June 11 04:47 BST (UK)
Hi there,

At this link is one of the many photographs taken by Freeman Brothers (early photographers in Sydney from say around 1855) It shows the then development around Campbells Wharf, looking back into Sydney Cove.  Possibly dating it to around 1870-80 ish ....   and thus ruling out any suggestion of The Rocks, as there's the motorbike (no earlier than 20th Century Edwardian era)

Fingers crossed though, it is just such a wonderful photo

http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx?itemID=52507

Cheers,  JM

 Edit to add this PS.   There's electric light poles along the water front, and the last of the yachts ("1") hauled up on the right seems to be of a more modern design than that of the one under sail on the water....  OH suggests the one we have called "1" could be post WWII in its construction. 
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: annmck on Saturday 25 June 11 09:59 BST (UK)
To me it has a look of Brisbane Waters or Lake Macquarie, both Central Coast NSW waterways.

It also reminds me of a stretch of bayside near Dunedin in NZ's south island....

Cheers 
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Billyblue on Saturday 25 June 11 12:34 BST (UK)
Definitely not The Rocks.  Not built up enough and the bay's too small for Circular Quay.

Also don't think it would be Manly (Sydney) - again, bay too small.

? Narooma, south coast NSW?  Was there last September, and it's hilly straight up from the beach, like that.

Dawn M

Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Cell on Saturday 25 June 11 13:23 BST (UK)
Hi,
thanks all !!I'll certainly investigate the links
Attached is the bike , the little bit under the orange .

It just that it  seems  familiar to me, if you know what I mean. When I picked it up, I thought I know that place, but where? Or perhaps I  just know of something similar .  I used to live near to part of Lake Macquarie, near to Swansea and spent many an hour fishing around the lake in various places. I can't think where this could be if it's around lake Macquarie, so I don't think it's around there, but I could be totally,totally wrong.
I really would love to find out where it is. I fell love with it when I found it  and couldn't leave it there. Goodness knows where I'm going to hang it though

Thank you
P.s edited to say - the more I zoom in on my picture, I'm not sure if my lady is actually a  lady now ???. It looks like a man on the bike  to me now , but what is that in his hair if it's not a bow?
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Rufous Treecreeper on Saturday 25 June 11 15:03 BST (UK)
Hi -

Looks to me like a motorbike and sidecar with a woman (ribbon in hair) standing behind the motorbike and man who is seated on motor bike leaning down (i.e. forwards towards photographer) checking out the engine right in front of her.  As he's leaning down and she's standing behind the motorbike it looks like one person, her top half and his bottom half.  There is another man behind the sidecar.

If it helps  ::) it doesn't look like any of the beaches or bays I've seen in western Victoria  :P 
The houses with the veranda roofs painted in stripes look very familiar though.

Mo
 
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Rufous Treecreeper on Saturday 25 June 11 15:07 BST (UK)
 :D Just had a thought - I wonder if it might be the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.  This was post WW1 project for returned soldiers, should be some photos to compare with on the internet.

Mo
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Cell on Saturday 25 June 11 15:16 BST (UK)
Thank you Momamg
keep all suggestions coming, as I haven't a clue. It does look  really, really  familiar doesn't it? It's "doing my head in"  as where?
 I see the three people now ,thank you! -you are right( I didn't notice the man leaning downwards in front of her ) ,but I still think my lady  looks a bit  like a man ;D
Thank you :)
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Koromo on Saturday 25 June 11 15:52 BST (UK)

Quote from: Cell on Saturday 25 June 11 13:23 BST (UK)

... I'm not sure if my lady is actually a  lady now ???. It looks like a man on the bike  to me now , but what is that in his hair if it's not a bow?



Goggles?

K.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: CarolA3 on Saturday 25 June 11 18:11 BST (UK)
Hi again Cell,
Quote from: CarolA3rd on Saturday 25 June 11 02:08 BST (UK)
Somewhere like The Rocks, Sydney could be more likely.
Oh dear.  Just to save everyone's time, I didn't say that it was The Rocks!  Maybe 'coastal NSW' would have been a better choice of words, but it was very late when I posted.
Anyway we can all see now that there are three people around the motorbike and sidecar and one is bending over.  All appear to be male and I think the two standing up are wearing caps/hats.  What looks like a bow in the hair could be part of some white object behind him, partly obscured by his head and cap.
Does anyone have any ideas about the name 'Walsh' on the boatshed?
Regards, Carol
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Just Kia on Saturday 25 June 11 20:20 BST (UK)
I'm sure that's a bow - you can see the loops and at least one of the tails.
Lovely view but I have no idea where.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Sunday 26 June 11 06:14 BST (UK)
From my profile you will notice that at least the Eastern side of Lake Macquarie features in my daily life.  I don't recognise it as around this local area, BUT .... it could well be on the Western side ... Toronto.... Coal Point, Rathmines, Balmoral, Carey Bay, Wangi, Bonnells Bay, or Warners Bay, Valentine, Marks Point etc....

Also, both OH and myself think this photo is post WWII rather than post WWI .... the yacht nearest to that bike seems to be from that later era, and both of us recollect a vessel along the lines of the one under sail, on the Lake in the 60's and later, off Belmont ......  We have not seen it for many many years though.  Family members used to call it a "Chinese Junk" .....

These suburb names I have mentioned may help Cell who mentioned Swansea NSW in one of the early posts. 

If it is of any further help,  I have had a quick look through some of my local history books and have not noticed any similar photos, but ...... the photo does look so familiar to me, and I really would have loved to have been that one step ahead of Cell and got to it first.  ;D

Also, re if female or male .... if female, then she is sitting fairly close to the chap on the bike, even if a relative, it would be unusual to be a female out on a bike around WWI and also being so 'familiar' ....  Is it likely to be a male with wavy hair and as been suggested earlier with their bike goggles on top .... or perhaps a beret with a pom pom on top ....
 

PS, neighbour says "Could be taken from where Toronto Police Station is on Victory Parade, or the old lane way below near the boat shed on the Lake.  "Old Lane Way" is now called Victory Row, and it is a car park for the boaties.   ;D   May I suggest goodle street view, and Victory Row Toronto to help Cell  ;D

Cheers,  JM

Oops, google street view, not goodle street view  ....  ;D
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: cuthie on Sunday 26 June 11 15:06 BST (UK)
I think it is goggles that have been pushed to the back of his head, possibly over a cap.  Just out of curiousity, is that a big white dog sitting in the bushes near the boat watching the guys with the motor bike and sidecar?  Cuthie
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Cell on Monday 27 June 11 02:23 BST (UK)
Hi,
thank you all - re goggles : it does look like goggles to me now and not a bow, thank you for suggesting that. I don't think it is a woman  as the more I look, the shape of the face and jaw line looks far too manly- unless it's a butch female . It's odd there is not one female in the picture - where are they? It's male town. What on earth have they done with all the  poor women? ;D

I'm going to have to rip the backing off and take it out of it's frame  to see if there are any markings on it , which I really hate to do - but the curiosity is killing me! The mount is also covering ,at a guess , approx an inch all around the edges of the photo (there maybe something else in that photo that is covered up that may pin point  the location).

Re the yachts - my Oh has suggested some of them look to be fibreglass rather than wooden. It looks very 40's to me, bit too old fashioned for the 50's, and too modern for the 30's -  it's hard to tell isn't it

I can't see a white dog. There is a white patch, I can't really make out what it is.

Thank you  :)
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: johnfw on Monday 27 June 11 02:36 BST (UK)
The motorbike looks to be 1920's. I note the abscence of motor vehicles, might mean something. By date not many vehicles available but not even a horse drawn cart. Plenty of bicycles.

With the vessels slipped a careened so close to the waters edge it is not open sea in Australia. Note the ketch in the distance, not a small vessel. I would expect the waterway to be an inland lake or well sheltered coastal bay.

The vessels are all sleek styled sailing craft and not fishing fleet, I would expect a mix of fishing vessels in most waterways of the time.

I don't believe the houses to be Australian architecture of any time.

I think Europe is the answer but still puzzled.

John
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Billyblue on Monday 27 June 11 02:45 BST (UK)
I don't know about John's comment re Australian architecture.
They could be - remember that in early days Australian architecture followed very closely upon the English style.
I certainly didn't discount somewhere in Australia, and I've seen a lot of our fair country.

And not all Australian seaside is open waters.  I live on Moreton BAY, myself   :D

But would say it's somewhere where it can be both very hot and very cold - look at all the verandahs and sunshades, and then look at all the chimneys!

Dawn M
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Monday 27 June 11 03:25 BST (UK)
The awnings on those homes are so very Australian to me .... When did the Aluminium awnings with the slight downward curve become available ....  I would suggest if they are that type of awning, then post WWII .... 

Lake Macquarie is one of the largest "inland" lakes on the Eastern Seaboard ....
http://www.lakemacquarie.com/Lake-Macquarie-Map.php

In colder months, we light up our fireplace on many evenings, and there is often frost on the ground hours after sun-up.   In warmer months .... well a couple of years ago, on New Years Day (ie summer) it was 45 degrees (C) and the overload on electricity resulted in the power stations failing, so no electricity at all anywheres in the south eastern sector ....

For example, overnight (last night) it was as low as 6 degrees C, and the current temp is 18 degrees C (unofficial of course, as taken from our personal thermometer.)  I would expect similar readings from those in the more urbanised areas on the western side of the Lake.

I think (so could be wrong) that Fibreglass was becoming popular for yachts in the 1960's ....

The ceramic things on the crossbars for electricity supply .... not sure when they were introduced, nor when they were ceased ....

The white "dog" .... I too do not think this is a dog, but perhaps the yacht.... and it could be that is not bushes, but the yacht's overnight covering being removed.

The man standing facing the yacht ... his hat could be a clue ... the brim is NOT  broad ....  I think the usual maker of those hats in Australia was Akurbra and looking at private photos from pre and post WWII the brims became less broad around WWII.


ALSO, may I suggest you are very careful in removing the backing .... Perhaps have a read through some posts here at RChat from the Moderator for the Photo board .... Mod is NSW based .... Prue ....  ;D  ;D

Cheers,  JM
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Charlie Bucket on Monday 27 June 11 06:50 BST (UK)
It could be New Zealand. Mangonui looks vaguely like it. Or another spot in Northland maybe.

A Northland local would be the best person to ask.

Regards, Charlie.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Alandal on Monday 27 June 11 08:17 BST (UK)
Cell,

We know it’s cheating, but have you come across the ‘Google’ search where you can copy a picture in and it will try and match it to similar pictures ?

It appears to be a useful tool as using your picture, it brings up very similar views situate Balaena Bay, Wellington, New Zealand ..... what do you think ?

Regards,

Al & Al
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Cell on Monday 27 June 11 10:59 BST (UK)
Quote from: Alandal on Monday 27 June 11 08:17 BST (UK)
Cell,

We know it’s cheating, but have you come across the ‘Google’ search where you can copy a picture in and it will try and match it to similar pictures ?

It appears to be a useful tool as using your picture, it brings up very similar views situate Balaena Bay, Wellington, New Zealand ..... what do you think ?

Regards,

Al & Al


Thank you  so very , very much Al & AL !!!! XXXXXXX  :-*  ;D

It is definitely Balaena Bay!!!! - thank you so very, very, very much!!
what a wonderful tool!!

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0dyq/

Brilliant!!  ;D
 Very Kind regards :)
(1912 -  there's me thinking 40's ).

I can't thank you enough as I really love the photo-  now I know where it is and a bit more about it such as names to some of it.
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: majm on Monday 27 June 11 11:23 BST (UK)
Wow, was I way off track or what !  I had printed it off ready to take to show some more friends ....

Cheers,  JM


http://www.panoramicearth.com/2306/Wellington/Balaena_Bay

and it is also used in this short youtube clip (possibly part of a series of student work for a design project)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsEzdniDFlU&feature=related
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: hepburn on Monday 27 June 11 12:04 BST (UK)
What's the link to the Google thingy?
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Alandal on Monday 27 June 11 13:30 BST (UK)
Hepburn,

You can find out how to use Google ‘Search by Image’ on the following site :

www.google.com/insidesearch/searchbyimage.html
 (http://www.google.com/insidesearch/searchbyimage.html)

Regards,

Al & Al
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: CarolA3 on Monday 27 June 11 14:50 BST (UK)
Cell, I'm made up for you!

What a brilliant result, and we've all probably learned things on the way.  RC does it again!

Best regards,
Carol
Title: Re: Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)
Post by: Cell on Tuesday 28 June 11 01:37 BST (UK)
Quote from: CarolA3rd on Monday 27 June 11 14:50 BST (UK)
Cell, I'm made up for you!

What a brilliant result, and we've all probably learned things on the way.  RC does it again!

Best regards,
Carol

I've never noticed that feature (search with image instead of text)with google image search before - I'm going to try it with a few of my photographs  - wow - how did that one get past me? brilliant
Thanks everyone :)