Historical information

The bonfire at Beckett Park was the culmination of the EMPIRE DAY/CELEBRATIONS in Surrey Hills in 1935 and 1936. In 1937 vandals lit the fire prematurely but residents hastily rebuilt it - about/100 tons including old tyres. A volunteer fire-watcher had his caravan close by until lights-up time on Saturday night.
From glass negative taken by Ian Barkla's father, Frank Leslie Barkla of 37 Grovedale Road, who was a keen photographer and a member of the Melbourne Camera Club.

Physical description

Image depicting the building of a large bonfire made primarily from rubber tyres, supported by a wooden frame c1937/8. There is a significant crowd of people watching the erection of the pyre from ground level. Several members of the crowd are seated or holding bicycles. There are multiple persons situated on the pyre or on a ladder propped up against the mound of tyres. The area containing the pyre has been fenced off with rope (?). A young boy in the image (second from left with bike) has been identified as Alex Walker.Black and white, W 25.3 cm x H 20.4 cm, landscape