Pittwater Online News

Fishing at Curl Curl - 1952

Photo by Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter (5 August 1928 – 25 October 2010) was an Australian photographer, filmmaker and author. His work was widely published and contributed iconic representation of the working population of the Australian bush as self-sufficient rugged and laconic.

In 1946, Carter set off to travel around Australia with his camera and typewriter and made a living selling his stories and photographs to a wide range of Australian and international newspapers and magazines including Paris Match, People, Pix, Walkabout and The Australian Women's Weekly. He was later also commissioned by National Geographic. The curator of the 2011 retrospective of Carter's work, Sandra Byron, said his photographs were "deceptively simple because they were extremely well crafted, wonderful images", and that he was an important figure in Australian documentary photography.

From 1949–54, Mr. Carter was editor of Outdoors and Fishing magazine, which is when and for what he would have taken this beauty at Curl Curl for. He then resigned to travel in rural and outback Australia as a freelance photo-journalist. He wrote and illustrated 17 books based on his experiences. His most widely held book outside Australia is People of the Inland. [Adelaide]: Rigby, 1966.

Jeff was born to Percy and Doris Carter in August 1928 in Melbourne. Jeff's parents were successful merchants and he attended Melbourne Boys High School. By the time he matriculated in 1946, his three major passions were clear – photography, writing and travel. He began taking photographs while still at high school. His first photos were taken with a Kodak Box Brownie, given to him as a 13th birthday present.

His photographs are in the collections of the Art Gallery of NSW, the National Gallery of Victoria, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia (over 450 photographs), the Art Gallery of South Australia, the National Museum of Australia, and the Powerhouse Museum. They have been exhibited at the National Library of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Museum of Australia, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Art Gallery of South Australia and overseas galleries in Osaka, Japan, Lisbon, Portugal, New York and Paris.

The Monash Gallery of Art in Melbourne, held a major retrospective exhibition of his images in May–June 2003, which was seen by a record number of over 9,000 visitors.

As a photographer, Carter concentrated on the unglamorous and unprivileged aspects of Australia, with a focus on the working lives and conditions of ordinary Australians. During his early travels, his experiences as an itinerant bush worker, fruit picker, side show "urger" for a travelling boxing troupe, drover, road worker, and mill hand, brought him in contact with the people who would be the subjects of his photographs. These early years of his career filled him with admiration for those making their livings in some of the toughest environments in Australia.

In 1947, at the age of 19, Jeff Carter married Frances Oscar, a motorcycle rider in a circus sideshow and had two children, daughter, Karen Siobhan Carter, and son Thor. In 1952 he began a de facto relationship with Mary Thompson-Read-Young (known as 'Mare'). They settled in 1962 on a 45-hectare farm at Foxground near the south coast town of Berry, NSW and turned it into a sanctuary for  wildlife. They had two boys, Goth and Vandal.

A few more Earlier Pictures of Curl Curl

These two photos were published in 1907 as part of a brochure selling land at Mona Vale

CURL CURL LAGOON.

At the meeting of the Manly Council a letter was read from Mr. G. Markham in reference to the damage done to his property by the waters of the Curl Curl Lagoon overflowing. The nuisance was a very serious one to him, and he wanted the council to lower the water as soon as possible. The cost of opening the mouth of the lagoon he would willingly contribute to.

Alderman Quirk said the matter was one that should be seen to at once, as the damage caused by the water was very distressing. He was sure if the. council opened the mouth of the lagoon and sent the account to the Public Works Department it would be defrayed. The Mayor said he recognised the matter was an urgent one. He would like to see a permanent opening made, so the water could have egress. The golf links would also, benefit if the lagoon were drained. It was decided to write to the Department of Public Works, asking if there was any probability of having the lagoon mouth opened. CURL CURL LAGOON. (1907, August 8). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112641175

Curl Curl beach circa 1910-1915

CURL CURL LAGOON

Curl Curl Lagoon and its smells are again being considered by the Warringah Shire and Manly Councils. Some time ago the Tram-way Department, in response to an appeal, moved the staff box away from the lagoon side, but has replaced it in its former position. Now passengers are kept for a couple of minutes in a most objectionable atmosphere. Some time ago an attempt was made to improve matters, but the last case was worse than the first. So futile were the efforts of the trust that the court upheld those ratepayers who refused to pay the rates. The tramway authorities are to be approached with a request to shift the staff box again. An outside suggestion has been made that the council should apply for some of the spoil from the city railway to fill the lagoon and build up the low-lying area. CURL CURL LAGOON (1916, November 1). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 4 (FINAL RACING). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223373836

CURL CURL IMPROVEMENTS

A new club house, 20ft. by 14ft., substantially built on a concrete foundation, has been erected at Curl Curl North Beach. The club is now desirous of erecting a verandah 8 by 9ft. along two sides of the building. Help is expected from the Warringah Shiro Council. Councillor Parr, the President of the shire, has given a gold medal for the member who shows the best attendance at patrols. The club membership is now 64. In the £15,000 loan for the Warringah Shiro C Riding provision turn been made for the expenditure of close on. £5000 on the construction of a road of access from Brookvale to within 70 yards of Curl Curl Beach. CURL CURL IMPROVEMENTS (1924, January 6). The Sun (Sydney, NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224576618

CURL CURL 'BUS

For a considerable time residents in the vicinity of Curl Curl Beach have been agitating for a direct 'bus service to Manly wharf, but their efforts have always been blocked by Warriugah Shire Council. Now they are likely to have their 'bus, in spite of the council's, opposition, as the traffic author-ties are believed to favor the new line. CURL CURL 'BUS (1925, July 3). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113920451

CURL CURL BEACH

The Curl Curl Beach Estate is to be offered on the ground to-morrow by M. C. V. Broughton and Co., and R. T. For-syth, of Willoughby. This estate is within a few minutes' walk of Curl Curl Beach, with its glorious lagoon, and only 15 minutes' motor drive by motor bus from Manly. A. good metal road runs past the estate, from which extensive and charming views can be obtained. The position is an ideal one for a week-end or permanent residence, and with the rapid development that is taking place on the northern side of the harbor the future value of positions like this cannot be estimated. There has been a big inquiry for plans. CURL CURL BEACH (1926, March 26). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article117289808

NB: 'Metal' for a road means is an old engineering term for crushed 'blue metal' stone or aggregate used to build or pave roads.

CURL CURL SIREN

MARY McERLANE, pretty sister of Dave McErlane, who is overseas, looks outstanding in the costume of the Curl Curl women's surf club after the parade at the South Curl Curl carnival. CURL CURL SIREN (1942, January 3). Daily Mirror (Sydney, NSW : 1941 - 1955), p. 7 (Late Final Extra). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article271587280

Griffin Road Looking Towards Manly, 1947

North Curl Curl surf boat crew with 'Boofa' boat, 1947