SOUTHERN CROSS INTERNATIONAL

EXHIBITION OF STEREO PHOTOGRAPHY


                                                               



THE COMMENCEMENT OF STEREO PHOTOGRAPHY CLUBS IN AUSTRALIA

by Allan Griffin Hon.PSA, FPSA


In support of the fact that the Sydney Stereo Camera Club celebrated its 40th birthday in 2011, I offer the following comment on some of the events leading up to the Club's inauguration in 1971.

Prior to the setting up of formal camera clubs in Australia dedicated to stereo photography, there was for many years a nucleus of devotees working in the medium. The Australian Division of the British based Stereoscopic Society existed from the very early days of the 20th century, primarily for the purpose of circulating postal portfolios of members stereo images both within Australia and overseas.

Historically, the late Harold A. Tregellas, who was resident in Melbourne, is credited with laying the foundations of post World War II stereo photography in Australia. Harold Tregellas became Secretary of the Australian Branch of the Stereoscopic Society in 1927, a position that he held until his death in 1969. This he did with zest and so was laid the foundation for a healthy following in this country. Large formats in use at the time included 7 x 3 ½ inch cards as well as 6 x 13cm and 45 x 107mm transparencies.

However, it was the ready availability of Kodachrome 35mm color transparency film after the Second World War (late 1940's) which gave rise to a major resurgence of interest in stereoscopic photography by those amateurs primarily interested in the realism provided.

During this early 35mm color era of the late 1940s and early 1950s, we find that the late Harold Grenenger, Eric Hart and Allan Griffin, were members of the Sydney YMCA Camera Circle. Harold Grenenger, in particular, persuaded the YMCA Camera Circle to include a stereo division in the annual Sydney International Exhibition of Photography. A stereo division was introduced in 1962 and continued on an annual basis until 1985. The Sydney Stereo Camera Club commenced an independent dedicated stereo international exhibition in 1980 named the Southern Cross International Exhibition of Stereo Photography which has continued to stage the Exhibition until the present.

By way of filling in detail with respect to the activities of those devoted to stereo photography between say the early 1950s and the formation of the Sydney Club in 1971, it should be noted that a growing number of those who belonged to the stereo postal circuits (now virtually all 35mm color) and who lived in or near Sydney met from time to time at the homes of various members, both on a social basis and for the projecting of each others stereo slides. The prime mover for such meetings in those years was the late R.G. (Robby) Robertson, who remained a member of the Sydney Stereo Camera Club right up to his recent death in 2006. Harold Grenenger was a tower of strength in this area as well. Harold passed away in 1991.

The first Australian National Stereo Photography Convention was held in Canberra in 1967. This was followed by a second convention in Melbourne in 1969.

The singular event which precipitated the formation of formal clubs in Sydney and Melbourne was the staging of the third Australia wide stereo convention on the Easter weekend of 1971 in Sydney, using the slogan "Sydney for Fun in '71".

After the Convention, its organizers decided to establish a stereo club at an early date. On 23rd May 1971 a formal meeting at the home of the late Russ Callinan at Kirribilli elected a foundation executive committee and adopted a constitution. The first meeting of the Sydney Stereo Camera Club as such was held on 31st August 1971 at the Five Dock RSL Club. The attendance at this inaugural meeting was 36.

Soon after the formation of a stereo club in Sydney, Melbourne also formed a club styled the Victorian 3D Society. Together, Sydney and Melbourne have staged an Australian Stereo Photographic Convention on a biennial basis, alternating responsibility for the planning and staging of the event.