A selection of the Maritime Services Board glass negatives is now available to browse on Photo Investigator.
About the glass negatives
The images record the construction of wharves and adjoining facilities in Sydney Harbour; ferry wharves and passenger amenities; views of Port Jackson; different types of ships and vessels; diagrams of technical systems; shipping movements; navigational aids such as buoys and beacons; rail work, tenements; roadways, housing and buildings in the harbour area including warehouses and boatsheds; road construction; reclamation works; equipment; damaged vessels (including on slipways); harbour-side pools; and demolition sites (including wharves, to combat rats and the plague).
There were no copies of approximately 2300 of the glass negatives received in 1980 and all of the negatives that were received in 1990 and therefore were largely unavailable to readers. In September 2004, Graeme Andrews, OAM, offered his services for identification and cataloguing project. Graeme was also able to obtain generous sponsorship through Chris Stannard, OAM, and Sydney Heritage Fleet to cover the copying cost.
The results of this project are now available. The prints are now in CODs 555-556, 561-582 and 584-592. These CODs are only available at the Western Sydney Records Centre.
About the Board
The MSB was established in 1936 and combined the functions of the Navigation Department and the Sydney Harbour Trust. Its functions were the administration of ports and port facilities such as wharves, pilotage services, the conservation of navigable waters, ensuring the safety of passengers and seaworthiness of vessels registered in New South Wales or operating solely in New South Wales and with ensuring that vessels operating in New South Wales are manned by duly qualified persons.
» See more about the MSB in Archives Investigator
Related records
There are several places you can find listings and/or examples of records from the MSB:
Archives Investigator 'Record Series' Search
HINT: Select Record Series and type Maritime Services Board in the title field
Archives In Brief
(see under Shipping and Immigration)
Our Sporting Heritage gallery
(see under Work and Play)
Other collections in Photo Investigator
State Rail Authority Archives Photographic Reference Print Collection