In the rugged landscapes of Western Australia’s south coast, a remarkable photographic legacy has begun to surface, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the region’s formative years. The work of Bert Saw, an Albany-born photographer from the early 20th century, is now being celebrated for its exquisite detail and historical significance. Saw, who possessed no formal photographic training, meticulously documented the lives of those who settled and traversed this often-harsh terrain, capturing moments from the earliest days of settlement to the departure of young soldiers for war, and even the construction of one of WA’s pioneering train lines.
Operating in the Great Southern region, encompassing areas like Denmark, Albany, and Nornalup, Saw wielded a formidable piece of equipment: a 12-kilogram glass plate camera. This apparatus, believed to have been manufactured in Cheapside, England, in the 1890s, was considered both “portable and cutting-edge” for its era. However, as Grant Peake, Treasurer of the Denmark Historical Society, points out, its use demanded considerable skill, especially when navigating the challenging south coast environment.
“He commenced, we believe, photographic work in about 1908 in the Nornalup area and did a lot of work around Denmark, Albany and further regions in the Great Southern,” Peake explained. “It’s not lightweight by any means, and if he was going through the bush, which he would have been, it would have been cumbersome.”
Despite the physical demands and the limitations of early photographic technology, the quality of Saw’s output was exceptional. “Compared to modern cameras, the portable camera we talk of now is completely unique… but the work he produced from this camera is highly prized,” Peake continued. “He was very skilled; he just knew exactly what he was going to take.”
A Fortuitous Spark Ignites a Passion
The trajectory of Bert Saw’s photographic journey, according to Bev McGuinness, Chair of the Denmark Historical Society, was set in motion by a chance encounter. “The story we’ve heard is he was watching the soldiers go onto the boat in Albany for the Boer War and was fascinated by the people taking photographs,” she recounted. “We suspect that maybe one of the photographers said, ‘Here, you have a go at this,’ and that got him hooked.”
This serendipitous moment ignited a lifelong passion. Over the course of five decades, Saw amassed a collection of over 600 images, all captured on his distinctive glass plate camera. Many of these invaluable historical records are only now coming to light.
A Legacy Preserved and Shared
Upon his passing, Saw’s extensive collection of photographs was entrusted to his nephew, Geoff Saw. In a generous gesture that ensures the preservation and accessibility of this significant body of work, Geoff Saw has gifted the entire collection to the Denmark Historical Society. This bequeaths the community a rich visual narrative of their past.
Geoff Saw, who recently celebrated his 97th birthday, retains vivid memories of visiting his uncle in the modest shingle hut he constructed in Bow River. This humble dwelling served a dual purpose, functioning not only as a home but also as Saw’s dedicated photography laboratory. It was within these walls that Saw meticulously prepared his glass plates, creating his own emulsion fluid by coating them with silver nitrate, and subsequently printing many of the 600 images that have now emerged.
“It brings back a lot of memories,” Geoff Saw shared, reflecting on his visits. “Old Uncle Bert and his Uncle Will lived in [the hut], and then [again] when they were building the house in about 1918.”
Recognition of a Master Craftsman
Though Bert Saw’s origins were modest and his practice rooted in the rural landscape, his photographic output has garnered increasing acclaim since his death. Ross McGuinness of the Denmark Historical Society highlights how the ongoing discovery of Saw’s work is illuminating the full scope of his contribution to the state’s historical record.
“The quality of Bert’s plates is such that Joanna Sassoon wrote a book about Ernest Lund Mitchell, who was, or acted as, a state photographer during Bert’s period,” McGuinness stated. “She featured an image which we’ve discovered is actually a Bert image because we have the glass plate of that particular one.”
McGuinness further elaborated on the significance of this discovery: “For Bert to be put up there with a professional photographer of the period and his work held up as being a very excellent example shows the standard of his work in general.” This recognition underscores Saw’s skill and the enduring value of his photographic archive, solidifying his place as a notable figure in Western Australian history.
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