John Joseph Dwyer photographed the Western Australian Goldfields from 1896 to 1917.
Witnessing a period of rapid change and growth, he documented the rise and fall of towns during the gold rush. His revealing images of townscapes, industrial landscapes, machinery and people give an historic and honest perspective, not only of the Goldfields but also the experience of transience. Through his camera lens Dwyer poignantly captures the material, social and psychological reality of fast-changing communities.
This exhibition is curated by Philip Goldswain and William Taylor, School of Architecture, University of Western Australia. The exhibition book, An Everyday Transience (UWA Publishing) by Philip Goldswain and William Taylor is available at the Museum shop.