Historic Transfer of Allan Doney Photographic Collection

Allan Doney (1900–1987) was a passionate amateur photographer with a keen eye for everyday life in and around Bendigo. From the 1950s through to the 1970s, he photographed streetscapes, events, industries, and ordinary moments that together form an extraordinary visual record of the region. Allan’s extensive body of work offers remarkable insight into the Bendigo region’s social and cultural history. 

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) (NTAV) acquired the collection in the late 1980s, purchasing approximately 14,000 negatives and 3,000 photographic prints from Allan’s estate. This significant acquisition was facilitated by the Bendigo Branch of the NTAV, which recognised the collection’s enduring importance to the local community and played a vital role in ensuring its preservation for future generations. 

For more than three decades, the negatives were loaned to the Bendigo Library (Goldfields Library Corporation). With grant funding from the State Government’s Office of Library Services, the library digitised a substantial portion of the negatives at low resolution, making them accessible to the public via its library database. Over the 35-year loan period, Bendigo Library staff responded to hundreds of reproduction requests supporting research, publications, and exhibitions. 

The photographic prints followed a separate path, being loaned to the Bendigo Art Gallery in 2001. This loan concluded in 2021, when the prints were returned to the NTAV for storage and future cataloguing. 

Also in 2021, Bendigo Branch member and Bendigo Historical Society (BHS) President, Euan McGillivray, contacted the NTAV to raise concerns about the long-term preservation of the negatives. Euan generously volunteered his expertise to assess their condition and provide recommendations to improve both storage and access. NTAV Collections Manager – Michelle Derrick, worked closely with Euan to develop a staged preservation plan, which included re-housing the negatives in archival-grade storage, cataloguing the collection, and digitising the images at a higher resolution for improved online public access. 

In 2024, the long-standing loan with the Bendigo Library concluded, and a new loan agreement for the negatives was established with the Bendigo Historical Society. In early 2025, using archival materials purchased by the NTAV, a dedicated team of Bendigo Historical Society volunteers, led by Euan, carefully and methodically re-housed all 14,000 negatives into archival-grade folders, greatly enhancing their long-term preservation and accessibility. 

Throughout this meticulous project, the Bendigo Historical Society demonstrated exemplary collections management, attention to detail, and professional standards. The Society also brings the curatorial expertise, facilities, community engagement, and local knowledge essential to preserving and interpreting the collection in a meaningful way. 

Recognising the strong local significance of the Allan Doney Photographic Collection, the NTAV believes it should be preserved and celebrated within the community where its impact can be most deeply felt. Entrusting the collection to the Bendigo Historical Society ensures this remarkable time capsule of the region’s past remains accessible to the local community, supports ongoing historical research, and continues to inspire pride in Bendigo’s rich cultural and social heritage. 

The transfer was approved by the NTAV Board in accordance with NTAV’s Collections Policy, following a thorough governance and decision-making process. It reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding Victoria’s regional histories and empowering communities to tell their own stories. 

The official handover took place on 16 October 2025 at History House in Bendigo, where NTAV CEO Collette Brennan, Executive Manager Marketing & Development Brook Powell, and Collections Manager Michelle Derrick were warmly hosted by the Bendigo Historical Society. The event was a fitting celebration of Allan Doney’s enduring legacy. In a wonderful reunion of objects, some of Allan’s cameras and darkroom equipment—already held in the Society’s collection—were on display. A particular highlight was hearing from James Lerk, who knew Allan personally and shared special insights into the man behind the lens. 

Looking ahead, the Bendigo Historical Society has already attracted offers of public financial support and is planning an exhibition of Allan Doney’s work in 2026. Behind the scenes, BHS Collection Team volunteers will continue the important work of cataloguing and digitising the negatives and photographs, which will be made publicly accessible online through Victoria Collections—ensuring Allan Doney’s images continue to be seen, studied, and celebrated for generations to come. 

Feature Image:  Michelle Derrick, NTAV Collections Manager, Euan McGillivray, President – Bendigo Historical Society, and Collette Brennan, CEO.