Time and Time Again: Rephotographing the Goldfields is a new collaborative exhibition that pairs historic photographs of Kalgoorlie and its surrounds with contemporary images of the same locations a century later.

Presented by Fremantle-based American/Australian photographer Brett Leigh Dicks, the exhibition is showing at the Museum of the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie-Boulder from Saturday, November 30, 2024, until Sunday, February 9, 2025.

As a 2023 ART ON THE MOVE Activating Collections Artist in Residence at the Museum of the Goldfields, Dicks spent a year researching and meticulously pinpointing the sites of the original photographs before recreating the scenes. Drawing from the Western Australian Museum’s Dwyer and MacKay Collection, his work presents a visual comparison between the Kalgoorlie of the early 20th century and today.

“Most of the photographs were created over a hundred years ago, and since they were created for commercial purposes, many of the images lacked precise locations,” Dicks explained.

“This meant analysing as much identifying information as I could and then turning to Google Street View to scour the area for recognisable landmarks. Once a location was identified, it was then a matter of determining the viewpoint and angle and when and how to best match the lighting parameters in the origin photograph.”

Funded by the Regional Exhibition Touring Boost, the Activating Collections Program encourages artists to work with heritage collections to create new work about local histories. Dicks’ project offers a unique glimpse into the evolving landscapes of the Goldfields, from iconic sites like The Palace Hotel and Boulder Town Hall to intimate street scenes, residential homes, and abandoned mining claims.

According to Dicks, it also offers an insight or two into the work ethic of his predecessors.

“Aside from how incredibly prolific the two photographers were, one of the things that quickly became apparent was Dwyer wasn’t much of a morning person,” the photographer said with a laugh.

“A lot of his photographs were created in the afternoon light, whereas MacKay was often out and about in the morning. But the most revealing aspect of the project has been just how important heritage is within the Goldfields. Even after a hundred years, a lot of the buildings depicted within those original photographs are still standing. Not only is that a remarkable achievement, it’s a testament to the local community and the value it places on local history.”

In addition to the photographs, Dicks has curated a series of ekphrastic poetry responses to some of the portraits from the Dwyer and MacKay Collection, drawing on personal stories and contributions from local residents. These poems, which capture the voices and memories of the Goldfields community, will be displayed alongside the portraits, adding a deeper layer to the narrative.

Visitors can also engage in a series of associated events, including a floor talk by Dicks on the rephotography movement and a hands-on workshop where participants will have the chance to recreate iconic Goldfields photographs themselves.

“The Goldfields region has such incredible history, and Time and Time Again captures that story in such a unique way,” said Marta Perona, Regional Manager at the Museum of the Goldfields.

“Brett’s work offers a visual dialogue between past and present, encouraging appreciation for the extraordinary heritage preserved within our community. It’s an opportunity for visitors to see our landscape through a new lens, bridging generations and revealing just how much, or how little, has changed over the last century.”

Time and Time Again: Rephotographing the Goldfields is a free exhibition showing at the Museum of the Goldfields from Saturday, November 30, 2024, until Sunday, February 9, 2025. For more information visit visit.museum.wa.gov.au