10 Murray Street prior to demolition - Thomas Ryan Photography
This image was made when the demolition of 10 Murray Street was near which is apparent by the hoarding. I remember being excited by the hoarding because of the opportunities to create images free of clutter - The clutter being cars parked on the street. This photo was just one of many captured on this beautiful blue sunny Sunday morning. I remember I had to drive an hour to get to 10 Murray Street. I remember being obsessed with looking at the weather (as I often am for photo shoots) and things were looking positive for blue skies, which in Hobart with its constantly changeable weather can mean what you hope for turns out totally different. I awoke in the dark at 4am, had a shower to wake up, grabbed something to eat and headed off for the hour drive in the dark. I remember thinking that this was it. This day was going to be the last day I could capture 10 Murray in its entirety before demolition. I didn’t know at the time if it would be the last but between work and life I always make the most of and opportunity provided to me, especially seeing as it was like losing a friend and not knowing if it would be the last time I would see 10 Murray again.
This particular morning was to be the last time I would photograph 10M in its entirety. The next time was documenting it being demolished. Over 10 years of documenting 10 Murray ended that sunny Sunday
Its funny driving in the dark as it's hard to tell if it's sunny or cloudy, but I could see stars on leaving so it was promising. As dawn broke closer to Hobart it was totally blue! Another benefit of Sunday was free parking everywhere and at that time of the morning spaces were ample. Having the hoarding painted black obscured it enough not to draw attention to it and the golden light emphasising the shapes of 10 Murray Street. With this edit I ended up choosing to go with a monotone edit over colours because going mono emphasised the sharp angles and repetitive patterns of 10 Murray Street. I met later with a good friend who also enjoyed capturing 10 Murray Street and we walked and photographed these last moments of 10 Murray Street before it was lost forever. This particular morning was to be the last time I would photograph 10M in its entirety. The next time was documenting it being demolished. Over 10 years of documenting 10 Murray ended that sunny Sunday. A building that stood for 50 years, I documented it over 10 years of its life and soon to be but a memory. The importance of photography in documenting our past and how it's so important for posterity came over me that day as I drove off back into the hills.
View the 10 Murray Street project gallery here