Historical information

Taken in c. 1900, depicted is a large group of adults and children dressed in formal attire gathered on a granite outcrop around a man giving a lecture on nature studies. Some members of the group are standing while others are seated or lounging.

Significance

Nature study was a new subject introduced into the school curriculum throughout the English-speaking world in the 1890s and 1900s that taught students about the natural environment. It was hoped that a concern about the natural environment would be fostered into the school children, who were seen as future citizens of the world, and that they would implement changes to preserve the natural environment when they reached adulthood.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph printed on matte photographic paper

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse:
6954 (in pencil)/
©/
DONALD HAYES/
BEECHWORTH (stamped in orange ink)/