Take a trip down memory lane and peek into the photographic archives of yesteryear’s South Perth with the recently launched website, Picture South Perth. 

Over 800 images from the City of South Perth’s Local History Collection dating back to the 1850s have been scanned and catalogued by dedicated staff over the course of eight months. The result of this being an online collection of historic images showcasing the people, places and events that have shaped the City of South Perth.

City of South Perth Mayor Sue Doherty said the archives reflect the rich tapestry of the City’s history.

“This is an innovative and exciting project for the City.  It documents and preserves our history in an easy accessible format for everyone and future generations.   

“Picture South Perth opens a window into the past of our colourful and diverse history. It’s fantastic to look through the pictures of the characters and people which makes South Perth such a special place, and to see familiar streets in a different era.”

“Picture South Perth brings together stories of the people and places around the City.  We can get a glimpse of the changes and growth in our City over the past century.”

One of the pictures featured in Picture South Perth from 1926 is of the tramline running along Mends Street in front of The Windsor Hotel, an iconic landmark in the City today.

In the 1900s, transport options to, from and within South Perth were limited to ferries, with the causeway connecting the south of the river to Perth. 20 years of lobbying for funds from 1902 to 1920 resulted in the first trams connecting East Perth to South Perth in 1922.

The tramline was then extended from South Perth into Como.  In 1926 the track was further extended down Mends Street and terminated on the Esplanade.

Mayor Sue Doherty said images of the tramline in and around the City capture the growth of the City in that period. 

“We have some fantastic images in the City’s Local History Collection showing the first trams in Como, and even an image showing the last tram to run in 1950.” 

“The City is now serviced by ferry routes, car and freeway travel, bus routes, and well-connected cycle paths. The City has changed over the last hundred years and future transport needs will bring forth more changes.” 

“Picture South Perth is a reminder of the value of South Perth’s history, and enables people to interact and contribute their own images to paint a more complete picture of our special history,” said Mayor Doherty. 

Picture South Perth features the collection of original artwork postcard correspondence by May Gibbs and her father Herbert Gibbs from the City of South Perth’s May and Herbert Gibbs Collection. 

The City’s local history collection holds over 2000 photographs of South Perth’s history.  Other images will be released online on a regular basis. Future collections will include aerial photographs of South Perth, Council photo boards, as well as more images depicting people, places and events in the history of South Perth. 

This online collection would not be possible without the kind donations of South Perth residents and members of the public. If you have any photographs relating to the history of South Perth that you think may be of interest, please get in touch with the South Perth Library. Copies of photographs can be donated in print form, or scanned and returned to you. 

Through Picture South Perth you can search, tag and comment on images.  Key words such as people’s names, places and subjects can be clicked on to view more images that have been tagged.

If you wish to support the continued development of the South Perth Local History Collection, you can also do so by offering missing information about images to help identify people, places and dates.

From April 18 – May 18, the City’s Libraries are running a photo drive as part of the W.A. Heritage Festival 2014. Contact either the Manning or South Perth libraries where images will be scanned and shared through Picture South Perth.

View the Picture South Perth collection online.