Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1918 - 1924 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 album of 40 black & white postcard size photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Francis (Frank) John Gosson was born at Macksville, New South Wales, on 28 June 1919. During World War II, he served with the 53rd Battalion from 19 February 1940 through to 7 June 1943. In 1942 he was involved in action against the Japanese near Port Moresby and salvaged a series of photographs, which predated the war, from an abandoned house near Rouna Falls. Frank Gosson gave the photographs to an ex Papua New Guinea Patrol Officer (KIAP), Robert Cruikshank, who referred them to the National Archives of Australia. The National Archives of Australia transferred the collection to the Pacific Research Archives in 2012.
Repository
Content and structure area
Scope and content
1 album of 40 black and white photographs taken by a miner associated with the Astrolable mineral field and the Laloki and Dubuna Mines near Port Moresby. The photographs were taken between 1918 and 1924 and include images of mining operations, storage facilities and a tramway, staff housing for the New Guinea Copper Mine, as well as the general images of the landscape and everyday events, including Rouna Falls, Bootless Bay, farming, harvesting and ploughing, a coconut plantation at Bautama (Bootless Inlet) and a funeral procession.
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Item List
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digitised copies can be found at https://openresearch-repository-anu-edu-au.virtual.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/144638