WWI: Sydney Harbour Trust remembers
Portrait photos of Sydney Harbour Trust staff killed in action in World War I
This is a portrait series (NRS-20231) of employees of the Sydney Harbour Trust who died while on active military service with the AIF during World War I. Each photo has the name written on the reverse.
These oval shaped portraits are printed on thick card and have been cut out of an album or display board. The name of the person has been written in pencil on the back of the prints. Most portraits have also been numbered in pencil on the back. All except one portrait show the sitter in a military uniform.
The Sydney Harbour Trust Commissioners (SHT) was a statutory body established by the Sydney Harbour Trust Act 1901 and was responsible for the general improvement, preservation and daily running of the Port of Sydney. All foreshores, lighthouses and tugs within Sydney Harbour which belonged to the Government were vested in the Trust, which also had the power to reclaim land for the erection of necessary infrastructure.
To this end the SHT had power to:
- regulate the movement of vessels and the handling of cargo in the port through a Harbour Master;
- collect wharfage rates and dues;
- maintain wharf facilities such as swimming baths and fire fighting and safety equipment;
- carry out dredging operations and removal of ship wrecks;
- grant licences for the erection of piers.
The Sydney Harbour Trust operated from 1901 until 1936 when it was replaced by the Maritime Services Board.
For more details on the Sydney Harbour Trust Commissioners see Agency 517 in the catalogue.
Published on
World War One
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