The Overlooked People and Places in 1970’s Auckland

Artist : Louise Lonsdale-Cooper

Online @placesforgood on Twitter /Instagram / TikTok 31 May to 7 June

Revisiting photographs taken 50 years ago Louise Lonsdale-Cooper (formerly Louise Wilson) takes us back to her 3rd year as a student at Elam, Auckland University School of Fine Arts.

As an extension project in 1976, Louise attempted to photograph "people overlooked." These people were captured in their work places in Parnell, Ponsonby, and Karangahape Road. All these works capture a time long past but one many people will still remember.

Friendly Yachtsman in front of his model ship, Churton Street

The Craig sisters enjoying a day out travelling on an inner city bus. 1976

Young mother and daughter heading into the central city for the day

Cactus - New North Road 1976

Exploring the city centre streets in 1976, Louise was interested in the hard working lavatory attendants.

A bit of history from the Auckland Council Archives:

“RESTROOM ATTENDANTS

• On 17 March 1927, the Council advertised for lady attendants for the Karangahape Road restroom

• A huge number of applications were received - 298 by the closing date

• Two attendants were appointed to cover shifts between 9:00am to 3:30pm and 3:30pm to 10:00pm

• The tradition of attendants continued into the 1990s.”

RESEARCHED BY SAMANTHA WARU AND VICKY SCALDING

Lavatory Attendant, High Street, Ellen Melville Building

Lavatory Attendant at work 1976

Lavatory attendant (Wyndham Street),1976

Lavatory Attendant with Supervisor, Wellesley Street

Places by Night

In her 3rd year as a student at Elam, Auckland University School of Fine Arts. Prompted by Senior Photography lecturer and former Chief Photographer at the Auckland Star, Tom Hutchins, Louise began experimenting with night photography in her local environment. The challenge was to take photographs using black and white film carrying minimal equipment, so many of the images were taken without a  tripod.

Lovingly gifted an Olympus  OM1 camera  from her Uncle she enjoyed having a built in light meter and could use an interchangeable wide angle lens when necessary. Working discreetly at night mainly in her local inner city environment with her hand held OM1, Louise used a darkroom method which involved a chemical called Promicrol not commonly used by her contemporaries. This meant when loading the camera and setting the ASA rating for the film inside she had to double the 125 ASA rating to 250 ASA. Later when developing negatives she had to allow double the normal time for the film to process in the tank.  Her final black and white prints capture the finer grain details of the night.

West Plaza Building at night with Queen Elizabeth Square construction site below, Downtown Auckland 1974

Dr. Sprott’s Laboratory at night with St John the Baptist Catholic Church reflection corner of Gibraltar Crescent and Parnell Road, 1974

Student Hostel with dragon tree at night, top of Brighton Road, Parnell 1974

West Plaza Building Downtown Auckland 1974

places on the street

As an arts student with no car, Louise often found herself walking back and forth across Bradford Street and Cowie Street in Parnell over to Ponsonby Road, and into the City Centre. This at times meant it was storefront windows, ajar doors, and street scenes that would quickly work their way into Louise’s camera lens.

Lord Ponsonby’s Antiques Ponsonby Road 1973

View through doorway Upper Queen Street clothing shop April 1973

YWCA kitchen staff having a break Upper Queen Street

Truck parked in Bradford Street, Parnell .1974

People in shops

Louise worked her way in and out of the many shops along the length of Ponsonby Road. She was keen to capture people in the comfort of their own working environment

Second hand shop owner plays with her cat whilst her helper irons new stock 1973

Son of the owner of Lord Ponsonby’s Antique Shop 1973

Happy helper finishes her ironing 1973

Shop keeper Ponsonby Second hand shop 1973

Auckland Easter Show

First held in 1843 The Auckland Easter Show has been at the Epsom Showgrounds in Auckland for generations. Below is Louise’s contribution to a larger Easter Show 1973 portfolio of photographs by students at Auckland University School of Fine Arts Elam.

Happy boy looking at the prizes on display at the 1973 Easter Show.

Brothers exiting a dizzying ride at 1973 Easter Show

Mates taking some “timeout” 1973 Auckland Easter Show

Family taking a food break at the 1973 Easter Show

people in Shops and on the street

Louise worked her way from the second hand shops of Ponsonby Road to the late night wanderers of Queen Street

Mormon Gentlemen Along Symonds Street, 1974

Bread Man, 1974

Bill from Steptoe and Sons, corner of Williamson Ave and Ponsonby Road, 1973

Tradesmen taking a break, Pitt Street, 1974