Mysteries solved - Part 4
By Myles Sinnamon, Engagement Officer, State Library of Queensland | 15 August 2022
Welcome to Part 4 in our ongoing series where we ask our social media followers to assist us in identifying undescribed (mystery) images from our historical collection. This identifying information is invaluable to us as well as other researchers, helping to make these images more accessible. The following four photographs are all taken from the W.A. Jones & Co. collection.
Nuns no longer on the run
We posted to Facebook two undescribed photographs from the W.A. Jones collection depicting nuns in their habits, hoping the images might be related - thankfully they were. The first photograph showed a group of nuns busily gardening around a statue of Mary with a building in the background. The second showed a group of schoolgirls descending a flight outside what we presumed was a school building with a nun, standing to the side, observing them.
Sisters of Loreto gardening around a statue of Mary at Loreto College, Coorparoo, Brisbane. 31557, W A Jones & Co photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 31557-0001-0175
Schoolgirls descending a flight of stairs at Loreto College, Coorparoo, supervised by a nun in a black habit and veil . 31557, W A Jones & Co photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 31557-0001-0410
Several commenters recognised both images as Loreto College, located in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo. It is believed these photos were taken in the early 1960s. Loreto College also confirmed that the images were taken at the school, stating that the statue of Mary had since been moved to a different location. One Facebook commenter also recognised herself as one of the schoolgirls in the second photo.
Yes, that's us!
Another school also assisted us in identifying a photograph showing a gathering of people seated outside and facing a podium. Commenters were quick to identify the location as the Flat at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in East Brisbane.
Churchie were able to provide more information about the event depicted in the photo – “Yes this is definitely Churchie, but had us also scratching our heads as to the event as it's not a photo we have in our collection. We think this is a ceremonial occasion on the afternoon of 5 October 1969 for the opening of the Roberts Centre and the Junior School, with Governor General of Australia Paul Hasluck addressing the Churchie community.”
Spectators seated on the Flat prior to an event at the Anglican Church Grammar School, East Brisbane, October 1969. 31557 W.A. Jones & Co. photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 31557-0001-0408
Crossed off
Our last image was an anonymous school crossing. Facebook commenters identified the location of the crossing as outside the St Andrew's Anglican Church on Lutwyche Road, Lutwyche, close to Wooloowin State School. The photo below shows the lychgate (constructed in 1924) matched with a contemporary image from Google Street View.
Cars and motorbike wait while schoolchildren cross Lutwyche Road at a school crossing in Lutwyche. 31557 W.A. Jones & Co. photographs. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image number: 31557-0001-0147
Comparing the lychgate with Google Street View (2022)
Further reading
Check out more stories about other mystery collection items now solved.
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