State Library of Tasmania - heritage listed Mid 20th Century design

The beautiful delicate reflections of State Library of Tasmania, Hobart. Designed in the mid 20th Century its a stunning example of glass curtain wall design and much of the interior is in original condition including the timber panelling, clock and staircase. The building was recently heritage listed, a great outcome for Tasmanian Modernism

10 Murray Street Government Offices Project

10 Murray Street State Government Offices in Hobart, Tasmania, commenced construction in 1966 and were completed in 1969. 10 Murray Street was demolished in 2018. The 10 Murray Street project has been an immense undertaking logistically, emotionally and photographically. I have amassed a large library of photographs I have still to process, documenting the exterior and interior spaces for over the past decade. Project gallery https://www.tryanphotos.com/10-murray-street-tasmania-cover

Industrial Tasmania

Launceston, like many regional cities and town in Tasmania was heavily reliant on industrial and manufacturing trades, especially in the Post War years. With this trade came architecture to house industry and we are left with some impressive examples from the period. With the loss of industry and manufacturing has resulted in the risk to these industrial buildings. Due to their often sheer size, decay and ill fitting use for today’s uses such buildings are at risk of demolition.

10 Murray Street Hobart Demolition

The largest demolition in Tasmanian history - 10 Murray Street Government Offices, Hobart. The mid 20th century offices were a Modernist landmark on the Hobart skyline and were demolished in 2018. I documented 10 Murray Street over a period of 10 years so that there is a record of this important design for posterity. I documented the demolition process too - as this forms an important part of the process of documentary photography and telling the story of the history of 10 Murray Street Government Offices. Check out the ongoing project on my website https://www.tryanphotos.com/10-murray-street-tasmania-cover

Launceston Silos & Woolsheds

This is my latest edit from my 10+ year project documenting the industrial beauty of the silos and woolsheds. The project explores the former industrial precinct located in the suburb of Invermay, Launceston before, during and after demolition. Over 10 years of documentation, this is a project close to my heart. I remember making this photograph just prior to the woolsheds being demolished. This was a prolific time of image making as I knew it would be only a matter of time before they were demolished and the silos being redeveloped and being unrecognisable to their original design. This photograph captured in 2015 was made exploring vantage points over the other side of the Tamar River, I enjoyed the process of finding as many different vantage points to document this landmark before it was gone forever. View the project photographs that I’ve edited so far here

1970s Launceston - Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania

This spectacular design is home to the RACT offices in Launceston. Designed in the 1970s it remains in excellent condition with little alterations to its original design. The staircase has recently been removed as some of the outbuildings that serviced vehicles and it had a a new paint job. There were tiles that featured under every windowpane which were covered over with sheeting. The design has fascinated me - its got Brutalist elements and feels space age futuristic.

RACT Offices in Launceston - An excellent 1970s design showcase

A photograph showing the building that stood prior to where RACT is now. I find it fascinating to view archive images and see what was there before. Also of interest is no street lights, just a humble stop sign to the far left on the footpath. Source - Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery

Henty House - Where Architecture meets Art

Henty House in Launceston is one of my favourite Modernist buildings in Tasmania. I enjoy its style and the photographic opportunities that it provides are countless. I find it such a photogenic building, its more akin to a piece of sculptural artwork. The textures, shapes and patterns from the concrete wood grain textures and how the light contrasts against shadow areas are a real joy and inspiration to capture on my camera. Over my 7 week road trip around Tasmania recently I focused on capturing new photos of Henty House. These are just some of the many details I captured of the sculptural beauty that is Henty House. Check out the new gallery on the website here for the entire ongoing project.

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Tasmanian Modernism - New website photos & 1000 followers

With the situation we all face with lock-down comes time to work on my photography and updating my website. I have spent a good deal of time working on the Tasmanian 20th Century Modernism project. The Tasmanian Modernism Facebook group has been growing with participation from members sharing photos and thoughts. View the website and new photographs here

I’ve updated the Tasmanian 20th Century Modernism project with a new layout and the addition of new photographs

The Instagram page has just hit 1000 followers! Thank you so much for all of your support. It means a lot and helps me know people are interested in this important part of our heritage. I’ve provided a new layout for the project and added additional galleries such as the Brutalist Henty House Government offices and The former Woolsheds and Silos Launceston. I’ve added new photographs to the galleries too. I want to be able to share the “hero” photographs in the galleries, whilst at the same time not overpopulating each gallery to the point where things become a visual mess.

Henty House Government Offices - Launceston

I'm in a positive dilemma as I have over 10 years of photographs, literally thousands of photos in my archive. Working out what to share and leave out is a real challenge. For many photos that don’t feature in the galleries I will be sharing them on the blog. It’s been fulfilling process editing and remastering my photographs, especially in these strange times we find ourselves in. Spending 7 weeks at the start of 2020 making photos for this project is all the more special now considering the circumstances we are in now - it means I have plenty of photo editing to keep me busy. Check out the “new” and improved website here and let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have.

Follow the project on Facebook and Instagram

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Launceston Library & Civic Square

I continue to work on editing my photographs for the Tasmanian Modernism project, and now that we are in lock-down it’s been a very productive time in which to dedicate time to it. I notice my last post was back in February - I want to create more posts about Tasmania’s wonderful architecture from the Modernist period, I’ve been trying to find the balance between writing posts that provide not just great photographs but tell some stories behind the history of the subject and perhaps some about my process of making the photographs too. Finding a balance between research and posting blogs is something I need to find a middle ground for otherwise there would only end up a few posts a year!

Launceston Library and Civic Square in their original condition prior to redevelopment

So to make mends to a lack of posts for 3 months here is an edit of the Launceston Library. Designed in the late 1960s it replaced the older Victorian Mechanics Institute. The library has many wonderful period details, the most apparent on the facade being the red bricks which curve. I captured many photographs over the years of the library and the Civic Square precinct in which the library stands. Since this photograph both the library and Civic Square have been altered and redeveloped. I documented these spaces throughout so that there is record for posterity. I also photographed the interior spaces of the library, whilst many of the lower floors had been altered in later years, many of the upper floors retained original period details of which I captured before redevelopment. I love looking back on my photographs and seeing places in a period of time. If you were to stand here today this scene looks quite different. The power and joy of photography for me is to be able to reflect of a given point in time, its there forever - in the form of the photograph In future posts I want to share with you the spaces and buildings that make up Civic Square - a wonderful precinct for Modernism.

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Abandoned Devonport Maternity Hospital

It has been a real joy working through my archives and remastering old photographs for the Tasmanian 20th Century Modernism project This photograph is just about 10 years old to the day! Being able to edit the photographs with the skills I've learnt is a wonderful experience. The first image I have never edited before, this is the first time its seen the light of day since capturing it all those years ago. The process of remastering, finding gems amongst my archives and capturing new photographs is a long process, but I find it such a rewarding one.

Devonport Maternity Hospital - I have never edited this photograph before, its a real joy working through my archives.

Devonport Maternity Hospital

Past, Present and Future - Tasmanian Modernism Project

Part of my process of documenting Tasmanian architecture from the 1930s to 1980s has been remastering my vast collection of photography I've made over the past decade+ pursuit. It's been a wonderfully enjoyable process going through my archives and remastering images with the skills and knowledge I have now. In 2020 I want to edit more photographs and have them up on the new Tasmanian Modernism website. In moving to my new website I've decided to remaster every single one of my photographs for the project. This take time but believe it's well worth the effort and something I thoroughly enjoy. I've just spent the past 7 weeks travelling all over Tasmania documenting places for the project. Check out the new Tasmanian Modernism website here www.tryanphotos.com/tasmanian-modernism

Former Devonport Police Headquarters

I wasn’t sure about what demolished/altered building to write about for a series of articles that focus on lost Tasmanian Modernism. In my recent blog post Documenting for Posterity - Today is Tomorrows History I discuss how much has changed since I’ve been documenting over the past decade or so - As I said in that post, change is constant, and it motivates me to carry on documenting our built environment.

Former Devonport Police Headquarters - a year prior to its demolition

This was the former Devonport Police Headquarters. Located in Oldaker Street, Devonport, the station was a wonderful example of Mid 20th Century design with the prominent feature being its glass curtain wall, a popular feature of architecture from the 1950s and 1960s. The facade had wonderful aluminium windows that created a pleasing pattern mixed with the light blue panelling. The main entry cantilever is typical of this period too, many Tasmanian designs have this feature in one form or another.

I remember driving to Devonport to capture it for posterity as I had read it was to be demolished. There is always a sense of urgency when I find out a building is to be demolished in order to capture it before its demolished. I made this image on a beautiful autumn day in 2012 and in 2013 the Devonport Police Station was demolished. A farmers market, Providore Place, was built on the site with the newly designed Police Station located in Wenvoe Steet.

As I continue to document and edit my archive photographs I will be adding them to the Tasmanian 20th Century Modernism website gallery for demolished and altered buildings - the gallery can be viewed here

Mid Century Hobart Landmark - Former Offices of Bush Parkes Shugg & Moon

This was the former offices Bush Parkes Shugg & Moon, designed by the firm in 1956. It was then used by the Government as the the Department of Education. The building (now called Construction House) is home to various businesses. The design is a wonderful early example of Modernism in Hobart, with elaborate use of Mondrian inspired tiles created by Artist Max Angus on the entire facade, as well as a beautiful staircase with a rubber plant tree that spirals up the entire flight of stairs! Another example of dramatic use of moasaic tiling can be seen on the facade of the Myer building in Launceston Interestingly the original design (as seen in the archive photo below) had 3 levels, sometime after an additional 2 levels were added. This was quite common practice of the period, that buildings were designed in a way that they could be extended. Bush Parkes Shugg & Moon architects were responsible for many exampalrly Modernist designs in Hobart, and this design is testimony to that and also reflects the involvement of artists in creating and being part of the overall design.

Artist Max Angus was prolific in his works throughout his career, as can be seen here in his Mondrian inspired mosaic details that adorn the entire facade

What I love about archive photographs is the new history they help reveal. Until I saw this photo I hadn't realised that it was originally designed for 3 levels, and later on an additional 2 levels were added. Photographic source: Tasmania Archive and Heritage Office