In the most recent regeneration of the Dictionary, we were delighted to be able to include the complete photographic album Works by Members of the Amateur Photographic Society of New South Wales, August 1886. The album is owned by generous contributor Graham Trevena, and contains some beautiful and unfamiliar views of 19th century Sydney. We are very grateful to him for allowing us to share these images.

The Amateur Photographic Society of New South Wales  was the second of such organisations in Sydney. The benefits of forming such a society along the lines of London's Photographic Society were being discussed as early as 1855 (Photography, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 May 1855, p5  and Sydney Morning Herald, 14 September 1855, p8), and again in 1863 (The Empire, 28 July 1862, p1)

but it wasn't until 1872 that the first Amateur Photographic

Society of New South Wales was formed (Sydney Morning Herald, 20 July 1872, p7).

The inaugural meeting of this second association was in on 4 September 1884 in rooms at Baumann's cafe on Pitt St (Sydney Morning Herald, 2 September 1884, p12):

A NUMBER of gentlemen interested in photography met on Thursday evening last at Baumann's rooms, which were courteously lent for the purpose, to inaugurate and form an amateur photographic society. The following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the year, viz; President, Mr. E. L. Montefiore ; vice presidents, Messrs. A. Wigram and J. W. M'Cutcheon ; hon. secretary, Mr. H. Paterson ; hon. treasurer, Mr. Beckett ; committee, Messrs. C. Turner, Dr. Elliott, E. Lichtner, V. Cohen, and H. S. Jeanerett. During the evening several charming pictures, consisting of views of the Hawkesbury, were exhibited.

It is contemplated to hold a day's outing, when the " Knights of the Camera " will have an opportunity of " bagging " some fine and interesting photographs. We may add that any amateur desirous of joining the club can gain all particulars from the hon, secretary, whose address is 227, Macquarie-street. (Sydney Morning Herald, 7 October 1884, p7) The Society was very active, and held regular meetings and excursions to Sydney's beauty spots to practice their art, with competitions to encourage members and free lectures to the general public. Bought by Graham Trevena  in the 1950s during a book-shopping foray into the city during a break from university classes, the album was originally presented by the members of the Amateur Photographic Society of New South Wales to the then Governor, Lord Carrington, at the opening of their second annual exhibition or 'conversazione' of their work at the Sydney Town Hall on 5 August 1886:

The spacious and well-lighted salon, thronged as it was with the "amateurs" and their friends who had assembled to inspect the beautiful collection of photographs exhibited therein, presented a brilliant spectacle as the Governor, accompanied by Captains Terry and Baring, entered tho building. The Volunteer Artillery band played the National Anthem, and Lord Carrington, who was received by the president and officers of the society, took his seat on a dais which had been erected in the hall. Shortly afterwards Mr E. L. Montefiore (the president of the society) welcomed the Governor, and thanked him for the honour he had bestowed upon them by consenting to open the conversazione. He also requested him to accept an album containing a number of photographs which had been executed by the members of the society. The speaker then announced to the members that Lord Carrington had consented to become the patron of the association, and the statement was received with applause. Lord Carrington, in reply, said he had to return his most grateful thanks for the fresh proof of the kindness which had invariably been shown to him in the colony. He

accepted with gratitude the album which they had given to him, more especially because the views in it were the work of the amateurs.  In conclusion he thanked the president for the compliment he had paid to him in making him patron of the Society, and said he wished the association every success. He then declared the conversazione to be open, and subsequently inspected the photographs, some of which were exceedingly beautiful. The different pictures were arranged on stands and distributed around the walls, and in one corner of the room the apparatus used by the amateurs was exhibited. A number of excellent photographs of many of the most interesting spots in the colony are shown, and some of them are well finished and mounted in capital style. The Botanical Gardens, the harbour, the suburbs, our mountain, river and coastal scenery, all have their admirers, and pleasing mementoes have been obtained of well-known spots and favourable holiday resorts, Tho photographic collection will remain open during the afternoons and evenings of today (Friday) and to-morrow. (Sydney Morning Herald, 6 August 1886, p7) The Amateur Photographic Society of New South Wales became defunct in 1889 and was replaced by the new Sydney Amateur Photographic Society (Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 1889 p8), which proposed "to admit ladies & minors, at half the usual subscription". Head to the Dictionary to explore the album:

Works by Members of the Amateur Photographic Society of NSW (and remember to click on the thumbnail and go to the full record to see the largest version). Our thanks again to Graham Trevena!