[SYDNEY] W. E. Smith Ltd., inaugural picnic, 30 December 1911, Correy’s Gardens.

[Title from handwritten caption in negative]. Gelatin silver print photograph, 87 x 140 mm, printed on postcard stock, captioned in the negative and with the the studio blind stamp of ‘Brand, 37 Park St.’ at bottom right; verso not inscribed; a very sharp print with much detail, in excellent condition.

W. E. Smith Ltd. was a large printing and stationery firm with headquarters in Bridge Street, Sydney, and branches in Newcastle (New South Wales) and London. Their inaugural picnic was held the day before New Year’s Eve, 1911, in Correy’s Gardens at Canada Bay,  between Concord and Five Dock in Sydney’s inner west. Presumably this was a convenient location for a large number of the firm’s staff.

In this fabulous group photograph we estimate there to be over 300 employees and their children assembled, all wearing their Sunday best (although it was actually a Saturday), with many beautiful ladies’ summer hats in evidence.

Quite possibly a unique image.