PHOTOGRAPHS, SANDSTONE CARVING DETAILS, SYDNEY TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Description

49 b&w photographs, 215 x 165mm, stored in an Ilford photographic paper box labelled "Sandstone carving - S.T.C." "1/4/87" is written on the side of the box. Related to TA2041. See also: Sandstone carvings recording : Ultimo TAFE NSW, Parts 1-3, 727.40288/SYDN - TAFE History Collection, Ultimo College Library.

Object ID number

TA1222

Object Probable Date

1/04/1987

Links to resources

Institute

Sydney Institute

Original collection

SI Heritage Collection

Campus

Ultimo

Object type

Photograph

Object materials

Photographic paper

Statement of Significance

Clear and detailed photographs capture the use of Australian flora and fauna in the capitals of the pilasters and columns of the original Sydney Technical College buildings designed by William Kemp (1891-1893). The photographer used a cherrypicker to gain access to these carvings on the facades of Building A (Sydney Technical College), Building B (Turner Hall), and Building I ("Commercial High School"). They occupy the Mary Ann Street frontage of Ultimo Campus.
Designs featured in the sandstone ornamentation carved by Gregory McIntosh and James Fillans were influenced by the nationalistic aesthetic promoted by Lucien Henry. He was the first instructor of art at Sydney Technical College and was appointed in 1884. Henry's design concepts which featured the use of Australian native plants and animals had an important influence on decorative art practice in Australia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Sources:
http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd7-013.htm ; http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/henry_lucien# ;
http://dictionaryofsydney.org/person/kemp_william?zoom_highlight=william+kemp
All 3 sources accessed on 9/4/2013.

Keywords

Sydney Technical College; sandstone carvings; Australian plants animals; McIntosh; Fillans; Lucien Henry

Permanent location

Bay B Library

Details

  • Owner: Unknown user
  • Collection: TAFE NSW Heritage Collection
  • Version: 1 (show all)
  • Status: Live