Time and Time Again offers glimpse into evolving landscapes and street scenes of Kalgoorlie-Boulder

An exhibition which offers a unique glimpse into the evolving landscapes and street scenes of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and surrounds will open on Saturday. Time And Time Again: Rephotographing The Goldfields pairs historic photographs sourced from the Western Australian Museum’s Dwyer and MacKay Collection with contemporary images of the same locations captured by Fremantle-based photographer Brett Leigh Dicks a century later. Dicks spent a year researching and pinpointing the sites of the original photographs before recreating the scenes as part of a 2023 Art on the Move Activating Collections residency at the Museum of the Goldfields. He said the exhibition presented a visual comparison between how Kalgoorlie appeared during the early 20th century and the modern day. “Most of the photographs were created over 100 years ago, and since they were created for commercial purposes, many of the images lacked precise locations,” Dicks said. “This meant analysing as much identifying information as I could and then turning to Google Street View to scour the area for recognisable landmarks. “Once a location was identified it was then a matter of determining the viewpoint and angle, and when and how to best match the lighting parameters in the origin photograph.” Dicks said studying the historical photographs offered an insight into the work ethic of J. J. Dwyer and T. F. MacKay. “Aside from how incredibly prolific the two photographers were, one of the things that quickly became apparent was Dwyer wasn’t much of a morning person,” the photographer said. “A lot of his photographs were created in the afternoon light, whereas MacKay was often out and about in the morning. “But the most revealing aspect of the project has been just how important heritage is within the Goldfields. “Even after 100 years, a lot of the buildings depicted within those original photographs are still standing. “Not only is that a remarkable achievement, it’s a testament to the local community and the value it places on local history.” The free exhibition will open at the Museum of the Goldfields on Saturday and run until February 9. Regional manager Marta Perona said the project offered a unique glimpse into the evolving landscapes and intimate street scenes of the Goldfields. “The Goldfields region has such incredible history, and Time And Time Again captures that story in such a unique way,” she said. “Brett’s work offers a visual dialogue between past and present, encouraging appreciation for the extraordinary heritage preserved within our community. “It’s an opportunity for visitors to see our landscape through a new lens, bridging generations and revealing just how much, or how little, has changed over the last century.” In addition to the photographs, Dicks has curated a series of poetry responses to some of the images from the Dwyer and MacKay Collection, drawing on personal stories and contributions from residents. These poems, which capture the voices and memories of the Goldfields community, will be displayed alongside the pictures, adding a deeper layer to the narrative. Visitors can also engage in a series of associated events, including a floor talk by Dicks on the re-photography movement and a hands-on workshop in which participants will have the chance to recreate Goldfields photographs themselves. More information about the exhibition can be found on the WA Museum website.