Blue Mountains

The batch number of this box is 155 and the production code "I4" points to the production date of September 1904.

The photographer wrote "Sylvia Falls" on the emulsion side of this plate. The waterfalls in the Valley of the Waters in Blue Mountains were frequently photographed in the 1900s and still are today. See, for example, this photograph taken in the 1900s. It is also labelled Sylvia Falls, Leura. Jim Smith in his book "Blue Mountains Photographer Walter Rumble" includes a photograph of Lodore Falls that looks identical. The two waterfalls are just 50 metres from each other, so they could be easily confused. There used to be a track to the base of Lodore Falls in the 1900s where a lot of photographs were taken. Unfortunately, this place is no longer accessible unless you are keen enough to climb wet rocks.

The remaining photographs in this box must also be taken in the Blue Mountains near Leura and Wentworth Falls. Two waterfall images are partially fogged possibly due to a light leak.