Going to Town: city life captured by Perth’s street photographers.
Explore the changing face of mid-20th century Perth through the lens of the street photographers who snapped passers-by. This exhibition of candid photos and vintage fashions presents a nostalgic portrait of a time when people dressed smartly to go to town, to buy everything from suits to sausages.
Long before the advent of phone cameras and selfies, commercial street photographers took snapshots of passers-by on Perth’s city footpaths. These photos captured the changing face and fashions of Perth city from the 1930s to 70s.
Many of these photos, now precious mementos in family albums, have been shared for display in the exhibition alongside fashions from the era drawn from the collection of the Royal WA Historical Society. Together they reflect a time when going to town was an occasion to dress up.
The exhibition will occur across the Perth Town Hall, London Court, Trinity Arcade in the city and also on weekdays only (10am – 4pm) at the Royal WA Historical Society at 49 Broadway, Nedlands. In Trinity Arcade, fashion students from North Metro TAFE will display contemporary garments made in response to hats from the Society’s collection.
The Royal WA Historical Society has mounted this exhibition with the support of a grant from the City of Perth.