Can anyone ID this bay/coastal photo? ( maybe somewhere in Australia)COMPLETED

[Cell]

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 )

[CarolA3]

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

[majm]

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

[majm]

Ohhhhhhh....

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

Cheers,  JM

[johnbshepherd]

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

[majm]

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

[Cell]

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 

thank you 

[majm]

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

[majm]

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