Mandurama Collection
Encyclopedia
The Mandurama Collection is a collection of 3,444 photographs from between 1865 and 1935, they were taken by photographer Evan Lumme.
The collection of photographs were taken in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales
, most are of the residents and village of Mandurama
, but there are images as far west as Boorowa
and many which are of unknown areas. In general however the images are primarily of the residents and areas of, Mandurama
, Lyndhurst
, Carcoar
and some are from Cowra
, Boorowa
, Burnt Yards, Garland, Gallymont, Neville
, Shaw, Blayney
and Orange
.
The photographs are considered an invaluable resource for seeing Country Australia as it was in the Victoria era, and the post-federation era. Few collections of this size survive to this day, and the reason for the survival of the Mandurama Collection is that they were forgotten about after the death of Lumme. In the 1970s the negatives were 'rediscovered' in an abandoned house in the Mandurama area.
After their rediscovery, the collection was given to the National Library of Australia
, and since then has made a short return to its home of Mandurama, during the town's 125th anniversary celebrations. The photos were commemorated in a book Faces of Mandurama written by John Thompson in 1997.
The collection of photographs were taken in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, most are of the residents and village of Mandurama
Mandurama, New South Wales
Mandurama is a village in the Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The site of the village and surrounding areas was home to the Wiradjuri people prior to settlement, and the name "Mandurama" is derived from their word for 'water holes'...
, but there are images as far west as Boorowa
Boorowa, New South Wales
Boorowa is a farming town in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Boorowa had a population of 1,070 people. It is located in a valley 243 km west of Sydney and 487 m above sea-level...
and many which are of unknown areas. In general however the images are primarily of the residents and areas of, Mandurama
Mandurama, New South Wales
Mandurama is a village in the Blayney Shire, New South Wales, Australia. The site of the village and surrounding areas was home to the Wiradjuri people prior to settlement, and the name "Mandurama" is derived from their word for 'water holes'...
, Lyndhurst
Lyndhurst, New South Wales
Lyndhurst is a small village in New South Wales, Australia in Blayney Shire. It is 4 kilometres west of Mandurama or about 269 km west of Sydney and 63 km south-west of Bathurst just off the Mid-Western Highway New South Wales. Once serving as the major centre for basic goods and needs...
, Carcoar
Carcoar, New South Wales
Carcoar is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, in Blayney Shire. In 2006, the town had a population of 218 people. It is situated just off the Mid-Western Highway 258 km west of Sydney and 52 km south-west of Bathurst and is 720 m above sea-level...
and some are from Cowra
Cowra, New South Wales
Cowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia in the Cowra Shire. It is located on the Mid-Western Highway, 317 kilometres west of Sydney on the banks of the Lachlan River at an altitude of 310 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census Cowra had a population of 8,430...
, Boorowa
Boorowa, New South Wales
Boorowa is a farming town in the South West Slopes of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Boorowa had a population of 1,070 people. It is located in a valley 243 km west of Sydney and 487 m above sea-level...
, Burnt Yards, Garland, Gallymont, Neville
Neville, New South Wales
Neville is a small village in the south east of New South Wales, Australia, in Blayney Shire. It is 60km south of Bathurst or about 16 km south east of Mandurama. It is 940 metres above sea level and currently has a population of about 100.-History:...
, Shaw, Blayney
Blayney, New South Wales
Blayney is a farming town and administrative centre with a population of 2,745 in 2006, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia...
and Orange
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
.
The photographs are considered an invaluable resource for seeing Country Australia as it was in the Victoria era, and the post-federation era. Few collections of this size survive to this day, and the reason for the survival of the Mandurama Collection is that they were forgotten about after the death of Lumme. In the 1970s the negatives were 'rediscovered' in an abandoned house in the Mandurama area.
After their rediscovery, the collection was given to the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, and since then has made a short return to its home of Mandurama, during the town's 125th anniversary celebrations. The photos were commemorated in a book Faces of Mandurama written by John Thompson in 1997.