Department of Mineral Resources Historic Photographs Collection facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Department of Mineral Resources Historic Photographs Collection |
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| Location | 516 High Street, Maitland, City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1860– |
| Official name: Historic Photographs Collection, Department of Mineral Resources; Geological Survey collection of historic images; NSW Trade & Investment offices Maitland | |
| Type | state heritage (movable / collection) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 972 |
| Type | Contents (movable) |
| Category | Government and Administration |
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Imagine a huge collection of old photos that tell the story of mining in Australia! The Department of Mineral Resources Historic Photographs Collection is just that. It's a special collection of pictures kept in Maitland, Australia. This amazing collection started way back in 1860. It's also known as the Geological Survey collection of historic images. Because it's so important, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
What's in the Photo Collection?
This collection is like a giant photo album of Australia's past. It holds original glass plates and glass lantern slides. These are old types of negatives and slides. There are also many copy negatives.
Pictures of Mining History
The photos show all sorts of things about mining. You can see pictures of mines, miners, and the tools they used. They also show the land and rocks related to mining. The oldest pictures date back to 1860.
How Many Photos Are There?
There are about 110,000 photographs in this collection. That's a lot of history! In 2001, many photos were mounted on cards. The negatives were stored safely. New photos are still added regularly.
Can You See the Collection?
Yes, you can! If you want to see these historic photos, you can make an appointment. This allows the public to explore this unique collection.
Why This Photo Collection is Special
This collection is very important for understanding Australia's history. It helps us learn about how the mining industry grew in New South Wales.
Rare Images of Early Discoveries
The collection has rare pictures of rocks and landforms. Some images show the very first discoveries of minerals. These photos help us see how mining began and changed over time.
How the Collection Started
The collection began in the late 1800s. The NSW Government's "Geological Survey" branch started gathering these images. They needed the photos to create geological maps of the state. These maps show what the land and rocks are made of.
People Behind the Collection
A person named George W. Card helped organize the collection. He was the curator of the Geological Mining Museum. Most of the photos were taken by photographers from the Government Printer's office. There's even a related collection of glass negatives at the State Library of New South Wales.
Photos from Across Australia and Beyond
The collection includes valuable old photos from different parts of Australia. You can find images from Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania. There are even some photos from other countries!
Where the Photos Are Kept Now
Only a small part of the collection has been scanned into computers. About 6,000 images are held by State Records. The rest of the negatives, glass plates, and slides were moved in 2004. They are now at the NSW Trade & Investment offices in Maitland.
The Department of Mineral Resources Historic Photographs Collection was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it's recognized as a very important part of history.
