An award-winning NSW State Archives exhibition exploring the startling and often tragic stories of NSW lawbreakers from 1870 to 1930 opens at Moree Community Library next week.
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Spanning 60 years, Captured: Portraits of Crime, 1870-1930 explores the fates of men, women and children incarcerated in NSW jails for crimes arising from desperation as often as vice.
Featured are images and the story of Pier McDhoon, who lived in Moree in 1908 and was a serial horse thief. He was first convicted of the crime as a child in 1897. He was described as a lad who would 'be an uphill battle to reform.'
With his body adorned with horse-related tattoos, McDhoon stole almost nothing but horses. He assumed other names during his life of crime but the one constant was his genuine, uncontrollable addiction to horses. His fascinating full story can be heard and enjoyed on the State Archives website.
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Exhibitions senior curator Dr Penny Stannard said the portraits of prisoners and associated documents preserved in the NSW State Archives Collection were powerfully engaging.
"The stories of people caught up in a NSW justice system of much earlier times give us a remarkable glimpse of what life was like for many and how harsh and desperate it could be. Every portrait has its own unique tale to tell," Dr Stannard said.
"The exhibition features a wide selection of information and images sourced from 46,000 inmate records contained in 199 jail photographic description books. These records have been digitised to preserve history and protect the information for future generations.
"Our experts have peeled back the layers of these historical records, illuminating the events that led these people to commit a crime. We looked at the offence type, gender, age and location of crimes to piece together a collection of compelling stories for the exhibition and catalogue."
Among those featured in the month-long exhibition is the story of Sarah Clifford, a former convict and known pickpocket in both NSW and Tasmania. She was photographed numerous times between 1872 and 1910 in Darlinghurst and Biloela jails where she was incarcerated. Her last known conviction was in 1910 when she was sentenced to six months light labour. Her prison sentences, when added together, total over 36 years.
Captured: Portraits of Crime, 1870-1930 received a Highly Commended award at the recent Museums and Galleries of NSW IMAGinE Awards.
The exhibition will be on show at Moree Community Library from Monday, August 12 until September 20.
