When amateur photographer Alfred Elliott's glass plate slides were discovered under a Red Hill house in 1983, the world of turn-of-the-century Brisbane came vibrantly to life. Something of our own answer to Vivian Maier, Elliott had a knack for capturing the poetry of the mundane and the special moments in everyday life.
Elliott’s work, spanning 50 years, is now accessible through this Museum of Brisbane exhibition. On show is not just the work, but the changing times — a period of explosive population growth was upon us, technological advances and the tumult of the World Wars. Distant and foreign, yet comforting and surprisingly relatable, Elliott also lets us into his personal life, offering snippets of family and home, altogether creating a wholesome and intriguing insight into the times.
Make your way to the Museum of Brisbane for a rare glimpse at where we came from and how far we’ve come.