A unique slice of Brisbane and QUT history and culture from the late 19th century is on display from today at Old Government House, with the opening of the photographic exhibition, To Sir With Love – The Dr Wilton W.R. Love Album.
Featuring images of Brisbane and surrounding areas from 1862 through to 1896, including panoramas of Brisbane City from the Observatory on Wickham Terrace, the album was originally created in 1894 by some chemistry students of Brisbane Technical College – a predecessor to QUT. It was a gift for their lecturer Dr Wilton Wood Russell Love, who was also a prominent Brisbane doctor at the time.
The album also features images of Dr Love with his students from this bygone era, as well as snapshots of Moreton Island, Glasshouse Mountains, Toowoomba Range (Queensland Rail), Gympie and Charters Towers.
The image-filled album was bought as a unique souvenir of Brisbane from a bookshop in 1944 by US Naval Officer, Dr Borivoj (Bori) Franko-Filipasic, while he was a patient at the US Naval Hospital in Camp Hill during World War II.
Dr Franko recalls being impressed with the care and dedication of the students in piecing together such a collection of images. After 50 years of ownership, he donated the album back to QUT in 1995 in recognition of its cultural and historic significance for both QUT and Brisbane.
The album has since been digitised by QUT Library as part of the university’s Digital Collections. In doing so, not only will these historical images now be around indefinitely, but people from all over the world can now easily access and view this beautiful and detailed album, experiencing a different perspective on Queensland’s heritage.
The exhibition, showcasing images as well as the remarkable story behind this unique album and its two owners, is curated by Dr Katie McConnel and is open to the public from 20 Oct 2016 – 23 Feb 2017 at Brisbane’s Old Government House.
Additional information:
An interview with the album donor, Dr Bori Franko, can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3BzxH4BaFw
Dr Franko’s daughter, Katy Franko, travelled from the USA to attend the exhibition launch today (Thursday 20 October).
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 1841, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
