One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts c. 1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, john jenner, bryant west, h r balfour

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts. c.1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph taken at Cat Bay by H. R. Balfour showing shells left from innumerable Aboriginal feasts. c. 1800local history, photography, aboriginal feast site, black & white photograph, aborigines, shell fish feasts, cat bay, h r balfour, john jenner, bryant west

Nicholas Caire was born on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in 1837. He arrived in Adelaide with his parents in about 1860. In 1867, following photographic journeys in Gippsland, he opened a studio in Adelaide. From 1870 to 1876 he lived and worked in Talbot in Central Victoria. In 1876 he purchased T. F. Chuck's studios in the Royal Arcade Melbourne. In 1885, following the introduction of dry plate photography, he began a series of landscape series, which were commercially successful. As a photographer, he travelled extensively through Victoria, photographing places few of his contemporaries had previously seen. He died in 1918. Reference: Jack Cato, 'Caire, Nicholas John (1837–1918)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National UniversityAn original, rare photograph from the series 'Views of Victoria: General Series' by the photographer, Nicholas Caire (1837-1918). The series of 60 photographs that comprise the series was issued c. 1876 and reinforced a neo-Romantic view of the Australian landscape to which a growing nationalist movement would respond. Nicholas Caire was active as a photographer in Australia from 1858 until his death in 1918. His vision of the Australian bush and pioneer life had a counterpart in the works of Henry Lawson and other nationalist poets, authors and painters.Albumen silver photograph on boardprinted in ink on support l.c.: VIEW OF THE RAILWAY TUNNEL THROUGH THE BIG HILL NEAR MOUNT HERBERT. / COPYRIGHT REGISTERED. printed in ink on support reverse c.: VIEWS OF VICTORIA. / (GENERAL SERIES.) / No. 10. / VIEW OF THE RAILWAY TUNNEL THROUGH THE BIG HILL NEAR MOUNT HERBERT. / This tunnel is situated on the Mount Alexander and Murray Railway Line, between Castlemaine and Sandhurst, / and is 431 yards long; the completion of this and the remaining portion of the line to Bendigo was celebrated by / great public feasting. The Tunnel is perfectly level, and the spectator is enabled to distinguish objects through it, / as may be seen by the illustration. printed in ink on support reverse l.c.l.: J.W. FORBES, Agent, printed in ink on support reverse l.c.: ANGLO-AUSTRALASIAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, MELBOURNE. printed in ink on support reverse l.c.r.: 10 Temple Court, Collins Street West.nicholas caire, landscape photography, mount herbert, railways - victoria