This collection began with a chance discovery at a vintage market, where a neglected pile of photographic negatives sat hidden amongst what many would have dismissed as rubbish. Something about them caught my attention, so I took a closer look and realised they were old photographic negatives. I couldn't resist bringing them home.

Once home, the real challenge began. The negatives were completely stuck together in one solid block, and I had no idea how I was going to separate them without tearing or destroying them. What followed was weeks of careful, painstaking work, slowly separating each fragile negative one by one.

The smell was unbelievable — a mix of dust, age and deteriorating photographic chemicals so strong that I had to wear a mask while handling them. Once they were finally separated, I placed each one into fresh folders so they could be properly organised and protected for the first time in decades.

Then came the exciting part: scanning them. As soon as the first images appeared on my screen, I was completely blown away. After more than one hundred years, the photographs were still stunning.

Dating to around 1916, this collection appears to document a family, possibly from Melbourne, travelling through Victoria and along the coast to Port Campbell. The images capture surrounding places including Melbourne, St Kilda, Port Campbell and other Victorian locations.

Among the most fascinating photographs are scenes of St Kilda, with the iconic Luna Park Scenic Railway visible in the background. Other images reveal coastal landscapes, quiet roads, family moments and everyday scenes from a world that has long since changed.

In the end, around 280 images were saved and preserved from what had once looked like a pile of ruined negatives. It is incredible to think these moments had been hidden away for over a century, waiting to be brought back to life.

Preserving collections like this is exactly why Lumirra Collective exists.

Every negative holds a story. Sometimes it simply takes a little care to bring it back to light.