Footscray

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Original Client: Deakin University

Original Year of Submission: 2014

This series was originally an assignment for Deakin University, to photograph the inner Melbourne suburb of Footscray. This suburb has had a long and proud history of immigration, diverse culture and blue collar work. Recent trends have seen Footscray become a hub for Vietnamese and African communities. This combined with previous immigration waves from Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia have made this area an incredibly rich cultural landmark for Victoria. The decline in manufacturing and factory employment has meant that this area is facing a new change in demographics. With gentrification taking hold, a rapid increase of construction has begun to accommodate for the population boom that this now trendy inner city suburb will face (Burin 2016).

Meet Manny (not his real name), who was unloading boxes into a local grocer in Footscray. A resident of the area for many years, he detailed his experience with the gentrification in progress. The major take-away from his experience is that local area is now a lot dirtier, with construction debris, rubbish and lack of upkeep during this transition phase. The series is a look at Footscray through his eyes. To document this unique moment in time.

For privacy concerns Manny asked for his photo to be censored upon publication.

 

 

Camera: Mamiya 7 II

Film: Ilford HP5 Plus, 120mm, ISO 400/27°, black & white negative

 

Reference List:

Burin, M 2016, ‘Footscray: melting pot turned hipster hotspot’, ABC, 26 February, retrieved 04 February 2018 <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-26/footscray-photo-essay-melting-pot-to-hipster-hotspot/7200366>