Photographs of New South Wales State Abattoir and Meatworks, Homebush

PXD 1613

fonds

1930s-1940s

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9669896

1 album (58 photographic prints) - album 30 x 40 cm
2 photographic prints - on card mount - mount 36 x 44 cm or smaller

In 1907 the NSW Government established the State Abattoir on the Home Bush estate. Situated on what was then the western edge of Sydney, the Homebush abattoir was the major supplier of meat for the domestic and overseas markets until it was closed in 1988. At its peak, the abattoir employed 1,600 people and slaughtered more than 20,000 animals daily. The Olympic Stadium is built on the site of the former abattoir saleyards.

Reference:
'Industrial history'. Sydney Olympic Park. Accessed 27 July 2023
https://www.sopa.nsw.gov.au/About-Us/History-and-Heritage/Industrial-History

By descent to Virginia Benning from her grandfather Joseph Merrett.

One photograph album containing 58 photographic prints, and two mounted photographic prints.

The album is a presentation volume that was given to Joseph Merrett, Metropolitan Meat Industry Commissioner of New South Wales during the 1930s and 1940s. The photographs, which are all captioned, comprise aerial views of the whole site and views of exteriors and interiors. There are exterior views of the Administrative Block, Pyrmont Meat Depot, Cold Storage, Flemington Saleyards, Drafting Yards, Resting Paddock and Pig and Calf Markets. The interiors include the Grading Floor, New Pig Slaughtering Section, Cold Storage, Blood Cookers and the Laboratory. Towards the end of the album is a series of photographs of scenes outside Sydney including Sheep and Country Saleyards, Travelling Sheep, Wool and Bullock Teams.

Accompanying the album are two photographic prints of the Metropolitan Meat Industry Board members 1931-32, and the Metropolitan Meat Industry Advisory Council, probably around 1931-1932. Joseph Merrett appears in both.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

'J. Merrett' embossed on front cover of photograph album.
'Hall Photo, 20 Hunter St, Sydney' labels on inside of photograph album covers.
'Hall Studio, 20 Hunter Street, Sydney' printed on photographic mounts.