A collection of photographs offering insight into life in Bacchus Marsh in 1883 will be the focus of next month’s BacchChat.
The Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society (BMDHS) will present the BacchChat, titled Bacchus Marsh in 1883 – Through the lens of Stevenson and McNicoll, on Saturday, September 6, at the Lederberg Library.
The presentation will centre around a collection of photographs taken by renowned 19th century photographers Stevenson and McNicoll who travelled around Victoria and New South Wales documenting people.
BMDHS member Margaret Simpson said an article in the Bacchus Marsh Express in September 1883 announced the photographers’ arrival in Bacchus Marsh.
She said the pair remained in town until late November of that year.
A collection of about 40 of their photographs was donated to the historical society in 1973 and was recently revisited by Ms Simpson and BMDHS vice president Tim Hogan while cataloguing items for the Victorian Collections.
“As we were going through them it became apparent it was an absolute treasure trove of historical information,” Ms Simpson said.
“It is very uncommon to have such a collection of photographs.
“We are privileged and excited to have such a rare and unusual archive of the town at a point in time.
“It became such a fascinating project that we decided to do a BacchChat.”
Ms Simpson said about half of the collection would be shown by the BaccChat, providing a snapshot of Bacchus Marsh in the late 19th century.
“It was a time of great activity, business and political discussion and here we have a snapshot of what was going on in Bacchus Marsh,” she said.
“It tell us so much about the way people were living at that time; the way society arranged itself.
“It is just a fascinating social record of the community.”
Ms Simpson said while some of the buildings shown in the photographs have long been knocked down and replaced, others remained.
“Today we can walk the same streets, see the same buildings and walk through the same doors,” she said.
The historical society is hopeful that BacchChat attendees will be able to provide insight into the people and places featured in some of the photographs that its members have been unable to identify.
The BacchChat will run from 10-noon. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/3munsfpp
