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. / Courtesy Ian Barkla. / see 180 (handwritten on backing board)." / "BONFIRE BUILDING at BECKETT PARK/EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN 1930s/ The celebrations were centred on the/ shopping centres in Surrey Hills and/Mont Albert to boost local business (and/ the spirits of residents) after the Depression./ - from a glass negative - Mr Ian Barkla."

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 white coloured caravan in situated to the right (facing) of the bonfire in close proximity to a dark coloured car. Two stone towers and a park bench are also visible in the image.Black and white, W 25.3 cm x H 20.3 cm, landscape