Arthur Studio Collection
Unearthing the State Library's photograph collections.
Photograph of G.W. Arthur, Mrs Arthur and Mrs J Martin playing with their children in the garden in 1960, Mount Gambier. SLSA: BRG 347/2019
The business of Arthur & Son was established by Garnet William Arthur, after his arrival in Mount Gambier in 1908. SLSA: B 74157
Studio photograph of Mount Gambier photographer, Garnet William Arthur, with his wife Ellen, and their six children. Names of the children have not been provided with the photograph. Back row: Eric, Gwen, Colin, and Albert. Front row: Gladys, Garnet William Arthur, Ellen May Arthur, and Lillian Joy. SLSA: B 74158
Photograph of Eric Garnet Arthur in Air Force uniform. SLSA: BRG 347/740
Mount Gambier photographer Eric Arthur, shown with his wife and four children and the family dog. Left to right: Philip, Brian, Pudney the dog, Evelyn, Alan, Elizabeth and Eric. SLSA: B 74156
Garnet’s eldest son, Colin, was interested in going into the business, but was killed whilst serving in World War II. Younger son Eric started in the business in 1946, after leaving the RAAF, changing the name of the business to ‘The Arthur Studio’ after his father retired. Eric retired in 1989 and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for community service in 2016.
Eric’s son Philip contacted us recently to offer us a better-quality image of one of the photos we hold in our collection which we readily accepted.
Philip also wanted to let us know that the family are currently working with the Mount Gambier City Council who are installing a memorial to his father and grandfather at the Crater Lakes reserve in Mount Gambier. It will include a sign that will reference the Arthur Collection at the State Library, in the aim of raising awareness of the public to the collection’s existence.
The following is a sample of photographs from the collection, but you can explore more images from the Arthur Collection.
Photograph of ‘Blue Lake’ products: a packet of flaked oats and a box of ‘quick oats’. The foods were produced by the Commercial Flour & Oatmeal Milling Co. Ltd, Mount Gambier. Arthur Studio (Mount Gambier, S.A.), 1958, Photograph, SLSA: BRG 347/36.
A truck, identified as 'Wholesalers Mt. Gambier' parked on the side of the road; the body of the truck carries pictures of 'Kream Brand corn flour' and 'Dandy gloss starch' which were 'manufactured by Maize Products Proprietary Limited, Victoria'. Truck is a British Bedford delivery van c. 1934. SLSA: BRG 347/9
A view of Mount Gambier's Trocadero Cafe taken from the street, on a rainy night in 1910. SLSA: BRG 347/1
The premises of Sunshine Motors Ltd, dealers for Morris, Wolseley, Hudson, Riley and MG, with two men standing beside three vehicles parked out the front. Vehicles are (from left to right) a Riley saloon, Wolseley 4/50 saloon and a Morris Oxford 'series MO' saloon. SLSA: BRG 347/27
The Mount Gambier premises of Elder, Smith & Co. Ltd, with a Kain and Shelton stock transport loaded with sheep driving past. Vehicle is a Ford Jailbar articulated truck. SLSA: BRG 347/30
Junior grade baseball team at Mater Christi College, Mount Gambier. SLSA: BRG 347/61
The athletics team at Marist Brothers' College, Mount Gambier, holding a shield, taken in 1949. SLSA: BRG 347/73
Six students dressed up in dresses and fancy aprons, in the grounds of the Mount Gambier Convent School, May 1950. SLSA: BRG 347/100
Photograph of the Misses Bishop as debutantes, taken in 1940. SLSA: BRG 347/117
Photograph of L.F. Bowman in army uniform with a young woman, taken in 1940. SLSA: BRG 347/242
More to explore
If you like this, you might like to explore more at the State Library.
Arthur Collection
Arthur and Son studio operated in Mount Gambier from 1904 to 1989; offers a unique visual history of the people, places and events in the region, particularly from the 1930s to the 1970s.
![Photo collection mashup [Left to right: B 46130/39, B/3600, B 7798/390, B 7798/417]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_square_1x/public/2020-01/photo-collection-mashup.png?itok=hLnI5922)
Photographs in the collection
Dip into our huge collection of South Australian photographs of people, places and events, as well as artworks, post cards and posters.
![Ask Us, Roland Eime, librarian in charge of Youth Lending, assisting a customer [B 72589/3]](/sites/default/files/styles/tile_square_1x/public/2018-09/Ask-us-B-72589-3.jpg?itok=F3wvzQZt)
Ask Us
For all your research or reference queries our librarians are here to help you!
Written by Sue Ward, Coordinator Archival Collection Development.