Riding high for a new vista of Orange

Riding high for a new vista of Orange

  View Orange, the society’s special project for 2012, has achieved much in the first half of the year, and offers some real treats in the coming months.

   Thanks to our very generous sponsor, Coates Hire, two panoramic photographs of Orange were taken by Orange professional photographer Alf Manciagli and Scott Gilbank on 1 May. The weather was perfect, with a fine showing of autumn colour enhancing the photos.

   One photo was taken from the vicinity of the former Dalton’s flour mill in Peisley Street, where the previous one was taken in 1908. 

   A second was taken from behind the Fire Station in Summer Street, from whose tower previous photos were taken.

   Society president Phil Stevenson said the retaking of panoramic photos of Orange was a timely event and would add greatly in years to come to the city’s archives of historic photos.

     “It was great to retake an iconic photograph of Orange as part of the View Orange project,” he said.    “I sincerely thank Vince Lamond of Coates Hire, and photographers Scott Gilbank and Alf Manciagli for supporting us in this venture. We could not have attempted it without them.”

Beautiful as the autumn colour is decided to have a further photoshoot soon because winter photos will allow clearer views of the city.

Seminar
  The second seminar to assist people in identifying, dating and preserving their photographs was held on 16 June. It was a successful day, following the earlier seminar held in March.

   To ensure that no-one misses out on this valuable information day, a final seminar will be held on Tuesday, 18 September from 6.30-9.30pm at Orange City Bowling Club.

1927 movie

   A real treat will be the screening at the Odeon Cinemas in William Street on Wednesday, 1 August of a rare silent movie about Orange, dating from 1927. The movie was discovered by former employee of the Strand Theatre Alan Press, when he worked there in the 1960s.

   It has recently been digitised by the National Film and Sound Archives so that people can see remarkable images of what Orange was like 85 years ago. 

   Society member Ross Maroney has spent a great deal of time examining the images to ensure that the inter-titles have been correctly named and placed.

   The screening of the movie will be a gala event, and a major fund-raiser for the society.
   Refreshments will be served in the foyer prior to the screening and it is hoped that Alan Press and representatives rom the National Film and Sound Archives will be present.

   All members of the society, and the general public, are warmly invited to attend. The cost of $20 will help boost the society’s funds so that it can continue with its work of preserving local history in all its forms.

   Tickets will go on sale on July 2 at Collins Booksellers: mark 1 August in your diaries!

Exhibition 
   The final View Orange event for the year will be an exhibition of historic photographs from the society’s collection and the CWD Negative Collection.

  The exhibition will take place in Orange TAFE College’s exhibition room. It will be opened in the evening of Wednesday, 26 September and continue daily for several days.

 Historic photographs from the society’s collection will be displayed as well as a special segment on Orange in the 1960s, using photographs from the CWD Negative Collection.

  As well, viewers will be able to compare the original panoramic photographs of Orange with the recent ones taken on behalf of the society.

  There will also be a segment on renowned Orange photographer William Bursle.

Ref: Orange & District Historical Society newsletter - Winter 2012 click to view newsletter