Irish Murphy's Hotel - Launceston.

I believe this was an earlier 19th Century hotel and a new design created the Art Deco facade we see today. Those arches from my previous posts show up again here in the form of the second floor hotel veranda. Selected limited edition prints are now available from the project. These are printed on archival paper and archival pigment inks. Each print is signed and numbered and comes with a COA with a backstory about how I captured the photograph. More information is available on my store here

J A Dunn Funeral Chapel - 1970s Launceston Arches

Carrying on from the theme of arches in my previous post of the Conservatory in City Park, Launceston, here is a similar reference - the beautiful arches of J A Dunn Funeral Chapel in Launceston. The use of arches was a popular design style in the 1970s and can be seen in homes from the period as well as commercial buildings.

John Hart Conservatory - Launceston City Park

John Hart conservatory located in City Park in Launceston was designed in the early 1930s and has design elements of stripped classical and classical elements that wouldn’t look out of place in 1880s Victorian Launceston. This style, or elements of it can be seen in Launceston when viewing buildings from the 1920s and into the early 1930s. The former TAFE building in Wellington Street (stripped classical), Duncan House (Gothic Revival influences) and decorative motifs and details on the Finney’s building in Brisbane Street. In Hobart a good example of this Decorative Art Deco style is in the CML building with its use of colourful terracotta and gargoyles. Later examples from the Art Deco movement in the Tasmanian context were more streamline in their appearance, a preference of lines and geometric shapes over ornate decorative details. Such buildings as Holyman House in Launceston and the former Hydro Electric Commission building in Hobart.

Former Coles Mowbray Supermarket - Launceston

This was the former supermarket at Mowbray in Launceston and my photographic documentation of this building. I also photographed the subsequent demolition and development of a new Coles building on the same site.

The original Coles Supermarket in Mowbray. It was briefly a Dimmys store and in this picture on the wall there is a council demolition notice for the building of the new store.

Documenting for me often includes photographing the demolition and rebuilding process so as to provide context to the evolution of the site over its lifetime.

The original design dates from the circa late 1960s/70s and was typical of supermarket construction during the mid 20th Century. Supermarket chains in Australia often began as more humble affairs located within the central business district. In Launceston both Coles and Woolworths were located in Brisbane Street Mall. After the Second World War population boomed in Tasmania as did suburban expansion which pushed housing out like never before. Couple this with the boom in car sales the design and locations of grocery store chains took on an entirely new design to support this new suburbia.

The Coles Supermarket in Mowbray was one of these new building designs and some other examples in Launceston included the original Coles in Kings Meadows (since demolished) as well as the Kmart shopping Plaza on the edge of the CBD off Boland Street. The supermarkets were often designed with sun filled glass frontages and ample parking, often the parking being many times larger than the store itself. I really enjoyed the design features of the Mowbray Coles with its large awnings typical of the era, the tiles as well as the textured brickwork on the street front. The security grills in the upper windows were a delight too, and similar designs can be seen on domestic fences and interior balustrades of homes from the era. If you look up at the Myer building in Launceston there used to be a café on the top floor, the original railings still remain and are designed in a similar style to this period. I remember photographing the demolition of the Mowbray store and there was the security grill bent and skewed, I wish I could have salvaged it!

The process of documentation of our built environment is so important to me, so that there is a record for posterity. I often look at the works of photographers who I admire such as Stephen Shore and they mention that what they were photographing themselves in the 1960s and 1970s was everyday, decades later it takes on new meanings to new generations as well as a sense of nostalgia. I often think about people who when I am out and about look to say why on earth would you photograph *insert building here* but we are but specs in time and I believe the places and buildings we see and experience are part of what shapes us and our memories. Collectively as a series and as a larger body of work documenting the built environment I feel a sense or duty and urgency to document out built environment before its lost and if not captured just a memory that fades away.

The security grills in the upper windows were a delight too, and similar designs can be seen on domestic fences and interior balustrades of homes from the era.

This perspective of the rubble from the demolition of the original supermarket provided a visual end to the building with all the rubble but the original period mid century grill in the foreground made this photograph for me, a direct connection to the aesthetic of the building amongst the random strewn pieces of building material

The redeveloped Supermarket

A Mowbray Modernist Curiosity

This building in the Launceston suburb of Mowbray has always sparked my attention due to the interesting stepped design and how it cantilevers over the pedestrian walkway. Those shapes really emphasis the building within the streetscape. Mowbray was an important suburb in the study of this period of history and architecture having really boomed in the Post War era with manufacturing and industry calling the suburb home. There is an interesting mix of remaining architecture including some Art Deco and Modernist buildings as well newer chain store buildings. I am not sure what it was originally built for but if anyone has any information I would be glad to hear. My guess is that it is circa 1970s in period but it may well be a little before this or maybe even 1980s.

Tasmanian kitchen from the 1950s

An original kitchen interior from the 1950s in Tasmania. I love being able to find and document such spaces they are like a time portal back into a time showing us how we lived. I love the sliding opaque windows where meals could be put on the bench and taken directly from there into the loungeroom. It reminds me of many mid 20th century motels I've stayed in where there would be a window booth for takeaway meals and drinks!

Former Launceston Grain Silos

This view of the Launceston grain silos captured for posterity for my woolsheds and silos project documenting the precinct over a 10 year period. I used to love going for walks here in what was at the time an industrial wasteland and it was a great place to be creative alone away from the world. This view was captured just over a decade ago, it is much changed today. View the project gallery here

The Art Deco and Modernist Apartment boom in Tasmania

The 1930s-1980s which the Tasmanian Art Deco and Modernism project explores was a boom period for apartment dwelling development. In Devonport, Burnie, Launceston and Hobart unit dwellings can be found, especially after World War 2 when immigration boomed and the requirement for housing stock skyrocketed. Housing was built both privately and Government social housing. Today it’s a case of back to the future as we see unit developments again. There are some wonderful examples of unit designs from the Art Deco and Modernist periods throughout Tasmania, here are just a few examples I’ve captured for the project.

Denham Henty Waterscape Fountain

I captured this photograph for posterity, as I do for all the photographs I capture for this project. In the back of of my mind I do this with all the buildings and built landscape I document as I feel that time can render places obsolete by demolition or altered beyond original recognition. Especially buildings from this period in Tasmanian history in which my 20 years of documenting I have seen many lost or altered. The fountain was designed in 1972 and pre-dates the surrounding Modernist landmarks such as Civic Square, Henty House and the Launceston Police Station. At the time Cameron Street would have still ran through what is Civic Square. I remember growing up with these kinds of civic spaces, the ability to play and have the sounds of flowing water right in the city was a feature of many civic spaces. The water fountain has recently been altered beyond its original recognition with turf being laid over where the water once was and the top of the falls now a plant garden. I wish the stones under the waterfall had been kept as they are now covered over too. The memories of detergent being added to the top of the waterfall to create a foam bath effect is another memory that many would probably have too! This photograph as well as other Tasmanian buildings from the project are available for the first time as a fine art limited edition print in various sizes. All photographs are printed on archival paper using archival inks and are signed and numbered. Prints come with a COA with a personalised story on my memories of capturing the photograph. All prints are shipped using sign on delivery and tracking. Print options are available here.

The Inspiration that travel provides for the Tasmanian Art Deco & Modernism Project

I recently undertook an interview with the the ABC on the Tasmanian Modernism and Art Deco project and how the project is now nearing 20 years. I’ve been reflecting on my travels documenting our built environment in Tasmania. I was reflecting on how much travelling and being inspired by what I found around me, not just in Tasmania, but on mainland Australia and overseas. I remember early on in my photography when documenting the now demolished 10 Murray Street Government offices I became good friends with the Architect, Dirk Bolt. I remember sharing my photographs with him of his design and his words of encouragement really inspired me to carry on documenting not only 10 Murray Street but the built environment at large. I remember documenting his other buildings in Tasmania as well as going on a roundtrip throughout Australia documenting as I went from Melbourne up to Far North Queensland as well as a list of buildings Dirk Bolt designed in Canberra from residential, university and commercial buildings. I still love travelling and documenting the built environment, the buildings may be physically removed from Tasmania but the connections in terms of design styles, architects and history all come together to inform my photography.

ABC National News Feature for Tasmanian Art Deco & Modernism Project!

I recently had an interview with ABC Hobart about the The Tasmanian Art Deco and Modernism project, my photography and what next for the project. Happy to have head the online feature which also made the national online news today! View the interview here

Old Scamander Bridge Prior to Demolition

This is my latest edit for the Tasmanian Art Deco and Modernism project of the old Scamander Bridge. It was the second oldest style bridge of its kind in Australia. It replaced many older wooden bridges that washed away and/or rotted. It is amazing to think that for several years before this bridge was built, the only way to get across was via a paid punt service. Considering it connected the East Coast of Tasmania to popular tourist and industry locations, it's amazing to me that there was no bridge for so long. After many years of Government planning, this bridge pictured was opened in 1935 with a crowd of approximately 2000 people in attendance. Its concrete and steel frame lasted for nearly 90 years and only came down through controlled demolition. Those travelling along the Tasman Highway would likely remember this landmark where people would use it as a walking trail and a popular spot for fishing. The current bridge was opened in the 1990s and I am guessing the old bridge was closed down soon after. It was a familiar landmark and with familiarity comes complacency and I hadn’t captured any photographs of it before. With the news it was to be demolished I dedicated several days to documenting the bridge before its demolition. I wanted to capture it in golden afternoon light as well as overcast conditions so I could have a variety of images to tell the story of this iconic bridge. The way the trusses zig zagged created wonderful shadow and light patterns. As I spent a great deal of time there I got to chat with locals and tourists alike of which many of whom had fond memories of the bridge. Seeing people walk over it and enjoying the beach and river views in the fading light added to my experiences of capturing the bridge. Not long after I made these photographs the bridge was demolished and it's now but a memory of many motorists, locals and holiday makers.

For my photography I am not content with a snapshot, I need to be on location and take in the subject, get to know it in all of its various )moods. It provides an emotional connection to the subjects I document and hopefully this is is captured in the final photographs. This print along with others from the Tasmanian Art Deco and Modernism Project are available for the first time on my website here

Tasmanian 1960s Interior Design Staircase

A wonderful example of 1960s interior design here with the staircase and the interesting use of aluminium detailing in the foreground. How this allows for the staircase to be seen by using the aluminium as a decoration detail instead of a wall. Love the original light switches too. The doors add to the atmosphere as if I've walked back into the 1960s.

10 Murray Street Government Offices prior to demolition

This capture I made of the now demolished 10 Murray Street was close to the end of its life. The hoarding had already starting going up and it wouldn’t be long before the crane would be raised and the building demolished. I can remember driving in the dark to capture many of my last photos as the light on 10 Murray was amazing and had the streets to myself. I had been inside the building documenting the spaces as they were, the next time I would go inside the building would be in the process of being demolished, it was an impactful and emotive photo project. I had spent over a decade documenting 10 Murray Street getting to become friends with the Architect Dirk Bolt. His correspondence about the building and his design were invaluable and inspired my photographic journey as an architectural photographer. For the first time this photograph is available as a limited edition fine art print in various sizes and printed on archival cotton rag paper, signed and numbered. Check out the website for this print and many more from the project www.tryanphotos.com/store

Metro Tasmania Bus Stops

Over the years I come across design elements such as windows, doors, signage etc and these provide me with insights into our built past and allow me to then gauge when a building was designed. Such a structure that pops up on my travels are Metro bus stops. For those who don't know Metro Tasmania is the Government operated public transport system. For Tasmania this means buses, there used to be trams and trains but that is a story for another time. I can remember these kinds of bus stops with their intriguing angles made of aluminium were abundant especially throughout Launceston - but as the years roll by I see less and less of these wonderful bus stops. There are still a few left and I only recently come across this one so there are still some still out there, but they are slowly disappearing. When I see them I take note and come back when conditions are ideal for photos before they are lost forever. If anyone has any information about them and their history it would be great to know some more about them - they all seem to be designed with the same style and aesthetic - I am guessing they were made in the 1970s or maybe even the 1960s? Perhaps they were designed by the Public Works Department? We often think of big grand buildings as history and heritage, but its also the little designs that form part of our collective history and are as worthy of protection and documentation.