As a proud fifth generation ‘New Englander’, I am thrilled to introduce my latest series of photo art greeting cards – the “New England Collection”.
For the longest time I wasn’t really inclined to photograph my own town. It seems strange now, as I couldn’t have wished for a better place to grow up, but in terms of appreciating my surroundings I suppose I took it for granted. Photographs were much more interesting when they captured places you visited on holiday.
It’s funny how a prolonged absence from a familiar place can be all that it takes to evolve from a state of just looking, to one of observing and truly beginning to see one’s surroundings.
This has certainly been my experience after living away for many years. I still have strong ties with the Inverell district, which happily means I’m often back to visit. With each trip I find myself taking more notice of the shapes and structure of the buildings, the outline of the hills, or the way the light falls over the streets and the landscape beyond.
In recent years I have become somewhat obsessed with family history research, and have begun to uncover the depth and breadth of my family roots across the New England region. Discovering the amazing stories of my ancestors has connected my heart to this area in a profound way, and is something I can now draw upon to bring richer meaning into my photography of the area.
I hope this small project may introduce this wonderful part of the world to a few who have never visited and for those who know it well, you may even see it in a different light.
“One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Now, to introduce the images!
Above: The Inverell Court House with its grand clock tower has to be my favourite building in town. It has dominated the town’s skyline since 1886, and the ringing of the clock carries for miles around – especially on those perfectly still, crisp winter mornings. Each time I make my way back into town at the end of a long drive I slow down to take in the town centre. Passing familiar old buildings like this one I immediately reconnect, with the feeling that I never left.
Above: The Inverell Town Hall is another grand old public building from the Victorian era. This photograph makes me think of previous generations of my family who performed here in the town brass bands, and brings back childhood memories of my nervous Eisteddfod recitals on what seemed back then like a massive stage.
Above: The corner of Byron & Otho Streets is at the heart of the town’s business and shopping centre, and has changed many times over the years. When I visit town these days I really notice the beautiful wide, tree-lined streets, which are at their finest during autumn.
Above: Inverell’s Taylor Memorial Uniting Church is one of the most beautiful churches in the region. This image captured in the warm afternoon sun stirs memories of many family events, my late Mum’s beautiful singing, and the rich sounds of the wonderful pipe organ. And maybe some mischievous childhood behaviour with my brothers during Sunday morning services!
Above: This fountain is a recent addition to Victoria Park, a peaceful space in the centre of town which has great significance as a meeting place in local indigenous history, and more recently as a place of memorial for the famous “Kurrajongs” who formed in Inverell before serving their country in the Great War.
Above: The view over the Macintyre valley towards the Great Dividing Range fills me with a strong sense of connection to my ancestors. Many of them made their living on a string of stations along the Macintyre and Severn Rivers, and further afield in the New England high country from the 1850’s. It especially makes me think of my grandfather and his siblings, and their father before them, who knew all the best fishing holes along the Macintyre.
Above: This typical New England autumn scene at Stonehenge, near Glen Innes, is a small tribute to my late father Greg and his Uncle Clem, who had the measure of many a fox, rabbit, or fish in this cold neck of the woods. I took this shot when Dad took me there in 2012. This was to be our last photography drive together, so this image carries special meaning for me.
Above: I love discovering old country churches. This Presbyterian church, built in 1925 is nestled behind a cluster of trees on the Gwydir Highway at Matheson at the foot of the Waterloo Range. We must have passed this church hundreds of times as kids on Sunday drives to visit our grandmother in Glen Innes (cue memories of the wood fire, lamb roast and bulging bags of lollies!), but I’ve never stopped for a closer look until just recently. I have to thank my brother Scott from Early Bird Photography for giving me the tip on this amazing place.
Availability | Information
This initial release of 8 images from the Inverell and Glen Innes districts is printed on an arty, textured card stock. The cards are 123 x 123mm, blank inside, and come with envelopes in a sealed poly bag.
Cards are available to order online in mixed packs of 5 from the Girt By Sea Photography website.
Larger photographic prints of the images are also available. Drop a line to info@girtbyseaphotography.com for more info or to enquire about current Inverell stockists.