Darlington, Sydney

Abstract

Photograph of a terrace house front bedecked with flags and a banner. There are two British and two Australian flags. The banner is composed of three horizontal bands of colour, possibly in reference to the French flag, two small circles that contain the letter: A, and a central disc on which is painted: WELCOME/ 1915-1919/ HOME. There are more words attached to the wrought iron lace veranda: THE/ BETTER/ 'OLE. William Ellis' address written on the inside front cover of the album is 304 Abercrombie Street, Darlington, so this image is probably of his own house. Ellis' address occurs on many of his documents and photographs, but while the street and number are always the same, the suburb is sometimes Darlington and sometimes Redfern. The occasion for the welcome home is likely to have been the return of a son who had served in World War I. The terraces feature brickwork facing, scroll decorations on the dividing walls, ornamental wrought ironwork veranda rails and trim, and wrought iron fences. Abercrombie Street ran parallel to the nearby Eveleigh Railway Workshops where Ellis worked for many years. Show more