State Library of South Australia

Adelaide Arcade interior [B 7496] • Photograph

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Summary

Adelaide Arcade viewed from upper level at Rundle Street end with everyone standing still for the photograph to be taken. Ornate fountains can be seen in the middle of the arcade with the nearest one representing two children holding an umbrella. A staircase leading below ground level is surrounded by wrought iron railings. Beautiful electric lamps line the arcade and others hang suspended from the ceiling. The arcade was one of the first Adelaide buildings to use electric lighting. The Carrara marble and black and white encaustic tiles form elegant designs. It is possible that the man on the right is the Arcade's caretaker, Francis Cluney, who died in 1887. He was found mangled in the electric light generator. He was known to always wear a top hat, long coat and an array of military badges down the left side of his chest, as shown in this photograph. The photograph was most likely taken on 12 December 1885, the opening day of the new Adelaide Arcade. An illustration based on Sweet's photograph appeared in the Pictorial Australian of 1 January 1886.

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Physical description

Photograph; 20.5 cm x 15.6 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1885

Creator

Sweet, Samuel White

Collections

Part of Acre 84 Collection
Part of Sweet Collection

Subject

Adelaide Arcade
Arcades -- South Australia -- Adelaide

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

General notes

Copy in Sweet Collection folder 6 has Sweet signature.

Digitisation information

Date

09/02/2015

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

13,364 x 10,050 pixels (134.3 MP)

Size

268.64 MB

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