photographer and traveller, is known only for her large collection of albums and photographs. An indefatigable traveller as well as photographer, the places she lived and visited in 1905-12 can be partly traced from these. In 1905 she was in New Zealand; photographs taken in both North and South Islands survive. The following year she apparently made an extensive and adventurous world tour, visiting Greece, Hawaii, New Mexico, New York, Niagara Falls, Yosemite National Park in California, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Sri Lanka, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, the Philippines, Portugese Timor, the Northern Territory of Australia, Queensland and South Australia (particularly Pewsey Vale). She was in Greece in 1909.
In 1910 Miss Gibbes stayed on a property called Yanrey (WA) and photographed various aspects of station life, including the shearing and the largest wool clip that had ever left the property (over 10 tons). Some photographs are of the donkey teams carrying the wool en route to Onslow. One shows 'A near neighbour (50 odd miles away)’ sending over his camel team to borrow the clipping machine and engine. Others show the party camping for the night at the Government Tank and, finally, the jetty and port at Onslow and the Rob Roy Hotel where they presumably stayed after despatching the wool. Several photographs are of Aborigines, both station blacks and those living traditional lifestyles in the Kimberleys and other parts of the north-west.
Miss Gibbes did not stay long in WA. She also visited Java, Malaya and Burma in 1910 (and, of course, took photographs). In 1911 she was in India, mainly West Bengal, including Darjeeling, Agra, Lucknow and the Himalayas, but also visited Delhi, Gujarat province, Gwalior, Amber, Udaipur and other places. As well, photographs dated that same year encompass Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, and Bavaria, Germany. In 1912 she was in Scotland, Harlem in the Netherlands (in April), Colombia and Venezuela. Her exotic wanderings with a camera then appear to have ended although Miss Gibbes lived on for many years. She donated her collection to the Royal Geographical Society, London, in 1943.
- Writers:
- Kerr, Joan
- Date written:
- 1995
- Last updated:
- 2011
