PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
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As she travels the country, the photographer is unearthing the forgotten stories of old buildings.
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
Photographer Pip Farquharson turns her lens on the shopfronts of a bygone age when she visits rural communities around Australia.
Tom’s Garage in NSW’s Manildra is now home to a movie poster museum.
Next door is the Amusu Theatre, which was designed by proprietor Allan Tom in 1936. The heritage-listed 240-seat Amusu Theatre has been showing films to the locals of Manildra since the 1930s.
One of Pip’s favourite places; “Someone saw this image in my exhibition and said, ‘I used to buy meat from there all the time; it really brings back memories.’”
George Woolnough Saddler and Repairs in Carcoar is now closed.
This shot of Eugowra’s Parallel Motors was taken before the Central West town was hit by floods in 2022. “It doesn’t look like this now, so I’m so glad I got this photo. It is still there but doesn’t look the same. The car just happened to be there and I couldn’t believe my luck,” says Pip.
“I’m glad I took this picture when I did, as the sign has now broken off,” says Pip of the Capitol Theatre in Carcoar, NSW.
The striking striped awning of this shop on Mayne Street in the historic NSW town of Gulgong caught Pip’s eye as she drove past. “I love that they haven’t fully restored it so the patina of the façade is preserved,” she says.
The leadlight windows of The Garden of Roses café at 72 Gaskill Street have made it a landmark of Canowindra, NSW.
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
The villages around where I now live in Orange have been bursting with energy over the past 15 years or so, as people from the city have moved in and embraced these old towns. It’s been wonderful for me to see once neglected buildings being carefully maintained and their heritage restored.
My fascination with shopfronts stemmed from my art history days, drawing old houses in Bathurst when I was at school. I think these old shops and theatres can tell us a lot about our history. I particularly love hearing the stories of those who used to live or work in these buildings. We shouldn’t fast forward without remembering these stories, as the buildings were often meeting places and an important part of each local community. When I lived in a share house, all my flatmates would tease me about how I would never go to a supermarket; I’d always go to these little shops — I’ve always preferred to shop local. I love knowing the people behind the counter, having a butcher who knows my name.
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
How did this project start? I’ve always loved street photography and one day I was driving though Manildra and saw that the doors of the Amusu Theatre were open so I stopped and went in. I had often wondered about it, but I never usually had enough time to stop so this time I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to find out more about it. I met the lady who runs the place that day and it just sparked something.
All these old buildings I have photographed have a story behind them, and we should document them before they are all pulled down or fall down. Nothing is made like it used to be. The weathered timber and faded paintwork give them a beautiful patina that makes a wonderful backdrop for photos.
I’m going to continue to photograph these old buildings. They are an important of my ongoing documentary work and I don’t think I will stop looking out the window of my car for the next one to shoot.
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
PHOTOGRAPHY PIP FARQUHARSON
To see more of Pip Farquharson’s work and to buy prints, visit her website.
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