Historical information
This photograph may depict Theodore Harcourt Herbert “Theo” Gray (1898-1979), a member of the Gray family. Theo was born in Seville, Victoria on December 21st, 1898 to the Gray family - a family with some local prominence in Wandin and Seville. Theo lived much of his life in the area - though his three years in the New South Wales Volunteer Defence Corps during WW2 indicate he might have spent time interstate - and died in Gembrook on June 12th, 1979. While clearly on a pine plantation, it is unclear exactly where and when the photograph was taken, though given Theo's residence nearby it may have been on the Nobelius property. Theo is too unclear in the photograph to determine his age; we estimate this photograph was most likely taken between the 1920s and 1940s, but this is only an estimation.
Significance
This photograph captures the economically and historically significant forestry industry of the region in the early 20th century. Forestry, among other industries, changed the local landscape and brought economic opportunities to the region. This photograph shows some of the scale of that industry.
Physical description
This is a small black and white photograph on yellowing white, glossy paper with a black backing. The backing is damaged in places, with sections missing revealing the white paper behind it. The reverse has several pencil inscriptions, while on the front is one written in pen. There is a small margin of approximately 5mm between the photograph and the edge of the item. The photograph's foreground is filled with felled logs, entirely covering the ground. In the background, a man stands on the logs, with forest behind him. The scene appears to take place on a hill, sloping down to the right. There are some creases in the corners of the photograph, and some artefacts of photography obscure the image.
Inscriptions & markings
Front:
Above Photograph, Pen: "No idea where!"
Rear:
Left Side: "Pine Plantation Nobelius Simlar"
Centre-Left Side: "Theo"
Bottom: "Theo Gray / Planter"
