Canberra's first long-lunch

The historic snap, which showcases 27 well-dressed men feasting under the shade of a Canberra gum tree, was recently discovered by Michael Monahan while sifting through his grandfather's photo albums.

Canberra-born, but retired to the south coast, Michael is the grandson of George Henry Monahan, who was the fourth clerk of the Australian Senate (1920-1938), and who remains the longest serving holder of that office.

With an Australian flag flying at far left corner of the frame and with many bottles (many, no doubt, empty) and other trimmings scattered over a long table, not to mention the discarded sandwich wrappers strewn over the ground, at first glance it's clear this alfresco shindig wasn't your average early 1900s picnic lunch.

Sensing its potential historical significance, Michael's first thought was that "the setting is either Camp Hill [near current day Old Parliament House but bulldozed as part of subsequent landscaping], or perhaps somewhere along what is now Commonwealth Avenue, with Mount Ainslie and Mount Pleasant in the background".

However, with no notes scrawled on the back of the photo to confirm the location or provide a clue to the date of the luncheon, Michael drove the photo up to Canberra to show staff at the National Archives of Australia and the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, where he was advised to take it to the historical society for analysis.

Not surprisingly, society president Nick Swain realised it was something special as soon as he saw it.

"We searched high and low, but we were unable to find any other photo in our files remotely like it," explains Nick, adding "it's quite unique".

The period clothing and choice of headwear provided the first clue.

"There's not a single top hat in the photo which puts it later than the very early 1900s; as they'd clearly gone out of fashion by the time of this photo", explains Nick who believes the photo may have been taken at the Federal City Camp (also called the Federal Members Camp) in 1909.

According to old maps, the Federal City Camp, which was struck in March 1909 in the area just near the intersection of State Circle and Flynn Drive in Yarralumla, allowed "Members and senators to be transported in motor vehicles to visit the alternative sites in the Yass-Canberra area for the capital".

"The Federal City Camp is also referred to as the picnic camp and this photo certainly makes it look like that," explains Nick.

Since first setting eyes on the photo, local history enthusiast and amateur landscape archaeologist Tony Maple has spent days scrutinising every available map, sketch, photo and document relating to 1909 Federal City Camp and has come to the same conclusion as Nick.

"The evidence suggests it was likely a working lunch set up on the northern edge of that camp which was held 3 - 29 March 1909," Tony says.

Keen to see if the striking gum tree with branch at right angles was still in situ, I met Tony near the Chinese embassy. As we strolled along Flynn Drive towards State Circle, it was clear that due to extensive landscaping in the area, including infill and tree felling over the course of the past century, that the tree was no longer there. What a pity.

However, in scanning the horizon across Lotus Bay, we agree that the two hills captured in the photo are almost definitely Black Mountain (behind the tree) and Little Black Mountain (to its right).

Ever the detective, Tony has also attempted to identify the men in the photo.

"I'm pretty sure the man on the far right is Charles Scrivener - the Commonwealth surveyor and member of the Federal Capital Advisory Board who was a guide at the Federal City Camp," explains Tony, who believes at least several of the other men bear striking resemblances to members of Parliament in 1909.

Tony may also have determined the purpose of the ghostly looking white square structure on legs at centre right of photo. Some have speculated it may have been the frame for an ablutions block.

"A 1911 watercolour of the adjacent Federal Surveyors Camp which was pitched around the same time as the Federal City Camp but which stayed in place for several years, shows a similar structure, possibly even the same one, amongst other meteorological instruments such as a rain gauge and a wind speed instrument," Tony says.

"My best guess is that the structure housed wet bulb thermometers."

Of course, with the passing of time, and the lack of any other photographs of the picnic for comparison, the exact location and identity of all the attendees may never be known with certainty.

Michael Monahan is already sifting through other photos from his grandfather's collection that may help confirm details of the bush picnic.

"This photo was one from an album of an eclectic group that I'm still going through," he says.

Swain, who urges anyone with any leads to contact the historical society, says, "This photo is so good, someone out there must be able to identify the faces."

Parliamentary dedication: George Henry Monahan must have loved Parliamentary procedure because before his record-setting role as clerk of the Senate, he also held other official roles, including clerk of the papers (1901-08), usher of the black rod (1908-15) and clerk-assistant (1915-20). Heck, what a glutton for punishment.

It's all in a hat: According to Nick Swain of the history society, "someone suggested the gentleman, fifth from the left in the photo, sitting in suit and cap was Billy Hughes (Australian prime minister from 1915-1923), but as one of our members articulated you'd never see Billy Hughes in a cloth cap".

Surveyor's Hut: Located north-west of Parliament House, between State and Capital Circle is a small concrete building many people mistake as a toilet block. However it was actually built under the direction of Charles Scrivener, the Commonwealth surveyor responsible for the first surveys associated with the national capital. The hut is the oldest Commonwealth building in the ACT and its weather and fire-proof design exemplifies Scrivener's concern for the security of the survey plans. Poor old Scrivener and his team bunkered down in tents and other less water-proof quarters as part of the Federal Surveyors Camp (1910-1912) adjacent to the hut.

CONTACT TIM: write c/- The Canberra Times, 9 Pirie St, Fyshwick, email: timtheyowieman@bigpond.com or Twitter: @TimYowie.

Cryptic Clue: According to folklore Bob Hawke swam near here.

Degree of difficulty: Medium

Last week: Congratulations to Sam McCombe of Braddon who was the first reader to correctly identify last week's photo (right), as a scene inside the Veolia Arena in Goulburn, home to the mighty Goulburn Bears basketball team.

How to enter: Email your guess along with your name and address to timtheyowieman@bigpond.com. The first email sent after 10am, Saturday, October 26, 2019 will win a double pass to Dendy - The Home of Quality Cinema.

While recently exploring Victoria's Mornington Peninsula Reserve, Rod Taylor of this esteemed publication's Ask Fuzzy fame noticed this "Grumpy Bum".

"He didn't say much, but I gather he cheers up after coffee ... just like me," muses Rod, adding, "maybe he's chewing over some maths homework or has a sore tooth".

On Thursday, October 31 (yes, that just happens to be Halloween), a certain Akubra-clad columnist will be highlighting spooky components of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. It's not intended to be a fright-fest, more a celebration of Australia's rich and diverse film and sound heritage. From recordings of otherworldly howls of Tasmanian devils to ghostly radio serials. 6pm-7.30pm at the archive in McCoy Cct, Acton. Tickets are $25 and include a drink on arrival. Bookings essential: shop.nfsa.gov.au/event-tickets/ See you there.