Sepia Saturday 188: 3 August 2013

Take a look at this 1905 photograph (from the collection of the Library of Congress) of the pier and harbour of the English port of Littlehampton. What you see is a tall ship and a remarkably small lighthouse. Or you might want to focus on the high windmill and the squat little tugboat. So if you want a theme for Sepia Saturday 188 (post your posts on or around Saturday 3 August 2013) you could look for photographs that bring together large and small, or big and little. Or, there again, you could focus on the sea, ships, lighthouse, piers or men leaning against bicycles. As ever with Sepia Saturday, the choice is up to you : all we ask for is an old photo and some new thoughts.

Ouf - what a banquet of choice this week in Sepia Saturday.

I can't focus on anything.

I live in Brisbane so you have to have the obligatory shot of our windmill.

Windmill and flagstaff in Wickham Terrace ca. 1893

I do believe that is a man and his bicycle in the foreground - albeit not leaning - but I'm happy with that coincidence.  Thanks to Picture Queensland for this photo.

Now, to lighthouses.  Well I'm partial to Bustard Head Lighthouse as per this previous post here.  But for good measure, here is a different picture of the lighthouse for your edification.

Lighthouse keeper, M. J. Rooksley at Bustard Head, Queensland, 1902

Ships?  Well this one of the Indus at the South Reach of the Brisbane River also appealed though I can't claim any link to the Indus - well not yet anyway....

Indus (ship) anchored in the South Reach of the Brisbane River, Brisbane, 1876

Last but by no means least, piers.

I have a soft spot for the Redcliffe Pier.  I worked at Redcliffe last year and took this photo.

Redcliffe Pier 2012

Compare it with this old one I found on Picture Queensland.

Entrance to Redcliffe Pier c 1935

There are many fond memories of the Southport Pier in my husband's family memory (not mine unfortunately)

This is how he remembers it in the 1950s.

Southport Pier Theatre, Southport, Queensland, circa 1950 [picture] / Photographer unknown.

We've had a change of advertisers/sponsors and a name for the theatre in this photo...earlier I think, though no date given.  I'm guessing the 1930s.

Pavilion Theatre on the Southport Pier Gold Coast

Here's another view

Southport Pier and theatre viewed from Anzac Park, Southport, Queensland, circa 1940s [picture] / Photographer unknown.

I like the big sign saying Talkies!  

And here's another view from the school which my sisters-in-law used to attend.

Elevated view, from Star of the Sea convent, of Southport Pier and theatre, Southport, Queensland, circa 1930s [picture] / Photographer unknown.

My husband remembers buying a Tristram's soft drink for threepence, back in the day.  He remembers the pier was burned down once in his lifetime, rebuilt and then pulled down because of it being a bit of a fire trap and problems with white ants.  Watching the movies with the sea lapping underneath your feet while lolling about in deck chairs must have been fun.  I remember my step mother telling me that she used to work there as an usher.

My heartfelt thanks to Gold Coast City Council Libraries for most of the photos of the Southport Pier on Picture Gold Coast .  I've spent a few hours this morning trawling their online collection and gathering material for my husband's family history.  It;s well worth drilling down to the local council library level to find lots more images.

Right, now to finish off - big and little things. 

What about this?

Cyclist posing with a penny farthing bicycle

A big bicycle...oh all right, a penny farthing....

And, I love this photo of my mother best of all with a big dog called Pete.

Barbara McLoughlin and Pete circa1939

It's Saturday,!  Relax and mosey on over to my partners in crime at Sepia Saturday and see what's on offer - maybe you could join us too and contribute something.  Go on!

And here's a bit of my favourite music...just because I can