DescriptionAlthough originally dated 1897 in catalogue, it is believed this tableau was performed in 1887. That was the year of Queen Victoria's Jubilee and all girls in the photo were here in 1887, based on Speech Night prize lists of that year.
OC Lorna Cornell annotated the copy of the photo given to archives in 1966 by Flo Carnegie, who appears as Scotland in the image. A note about the donation appears in the OC section of S&G, 1966, with incorrect date.
According to those notes, the students are: Brittania (top, centre: Kath Kemsley), Ireland (Left of Britannia, in green: Cissie Rouse), Scotland (right of Britannia, in tartan: Flo Carnegie), India (left in red shawl: Lorna Howell), Canada (far right, in white: Ellie Moss), Australian States (centre, in gold: Lily Saw, Agnes Crooks, Linda Shier, Ellie Moss) and South Africa (Bottom, in green with feather: Stella White).
In Edna Cornell's handwriting on verso is written "Birthday Night - late 1890s/1896?" and the names as recorded above.
Mounted on photo card. (24.5 x 17 cm; photo: 19 x 14) Embossed below photo is "TALMA - Paris Panel - 119 Swanston Street, Melbourne" Talma Photo studios operated in Melbourne from 1893 to 1933 and also had a studio in Sydney. The image appears to have been hand coloured. At a later date, additional, poor quality colouring has been applied to the white portions of the image (Britannia's crown, dress, trident; Canada's dress; South Africa's feather).Date1897SeriesRS0629Item IDACC0293/43/1897TypePhotograph
