A Colourful History

Imagining Australian history in colour
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It’s easy to find yourself reflecting on history in only black, white, and sepia when scrolling through historical images in Trove. But the world has always been full of colour, as Kelly Bonato reminds us, with her passion project: A Colourful History.

6 people and two horse and carriages standing out the front of a butchershop
Original image: Charles Alfred Petts, H. Herensreit, Family Butcher, Elsternwick, 1910, trove.nla.gov.au/work/234706029

Born out of a love of history, A Colourful History breathes new life into historical photographs by imagining what the scenes might have looked like in colour. Kelly also uses Trove to research the stories behind the images she’s colourised, before sharing them with fellow Australian history enthusiasts on social media.

Connecting to the past 

Kelly first journeyed into Trove after stumbling upon a family photo album dating back to the mid-1800s in her shed. 

‘This chance discovery ignited a curiosity about my family's past, a realm I knew surprisingly little about,’ Kelly said.

colourised image of historical cars parked at a beach. Beachgoers sit on a ledge next to the sand in front of the cars and the ocean can be seen in the background.
Original image: Bill Arnold, Car park, Glenelg, 1938, trove.nla.gov.au/work/208431183 

‘I embarked on a quest for articles about my ancestors who arrived in South Australia in the early 1840s. To my delight, Trove proved to be a treasure trove of information, yielding several articles that enlightened me about their lives and offered a glimpse into their personalities. The wealth of details I uncovered is nothing short of fascinating.’ 

While connecting the dots of her family history, Kelly began restoring and adding colour to the family photographs. 

‘What started as a personal project quickly turned into a full-blown passion,’ Kelly explained.

Cars are loaded onto a ferry as people and cyclists disembark
Original image: Cars driving on to Tom Ugly's punt on George's River with cyclists and passengers alighting, New South Wales, c.1920, nla.obj-160374913  

‘Now, I am immersed in editing and colourising photographs, particularly those from South Australia. As I love history, I wanted to share these visual time capsules with others, and so A Colourful History was born. It's a thrilling journey of discovery that keeps me hooked!'

Researching photographs 

Today, Kelly also uses Trove to research the stories behind the photographs she chooses to colourise.

‘I rely heavily on Trove to research the narratives behind the images.’ 

Group of people riding in a charabanc
Original image: State Tourist Bureau charabanc, 1910, trove.nla.gov.au/work/208457393  

After colourising State Tourist Bureau charabanc – taken in 1910 and now held by the State Library of South Australia – Kelly discovered a lack of information about the image.

‘The image depicted an old charabanc brimming with people from bygone days, yet the identities of these individuals remained elusive,’ Kelly said.

Using Trove, she found the story behind the charabanc (a precursor to the bus) in an article published in The Register on 12 September 1910.

‘This discovery not only shed light on the charabanc itself but also unveiled the names of the people aboard and disclosed the specifics of their journey on that day. In a gratifying turn of events, I could then share this newfound information with the State Library of South Australia,’ Kelly said.

Five women dresses up for the races sitting on a bench smiling
Original image: Attendees at the Victoria Park races, 1940, trove.nla.gov.au/work/208501093

A world of colour 

Every creative project starts with a splash of inspiration. Kelly's inspiration stems from ‘a desire to bridge the gap between the past and present.’ 

‘Our perception of the world is not confined to shades of grey. It is a tapestry of glorious colours that adds richness to our surroundings. When confronted with black and white photographs, the absence of colour renders them seemingly unreal,’ Kelly says. ‘The vibrant hues make the images feel more authentic and allow me to picture the intricate details and vividly imagine the lives and times captured in those moments.’

The project is a labour of love for Kelly, who reports that it takes her about six hours to restore and colour a single photograph. Her process starts by restoring the black and white image. She then uses automatic colourisation software – created by her son – to introduce colour, before digitally repainting the entire image using photo editing software for a perfect finish.

‘I prefer to infuse a touch of colour into historical photographs spanning from the 1860s through to the 1940s.’

A little girl dressed up in a fairy costume
Original image: Wivell & Co., Isabel Beresford, 1887, trove.nla.gov.au/work/208478328

For the love of Trove... 

‘There are so many things that I love and enjoy about Trove. Besides being so easily accessible to all, Trove is an invaluable tool that connects us to our shared past,’ Kelly says.

‘The platform serves as a treasure trove of historical information, allowing us to delve into old articles, newspapers, photographs, magazines, and more. With respect to magazines and articles, what truly engages me is the descriptive writing style prevalent in those bygone days, providing a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. It's a fascinating journey through time, where the richness of language paints a visual tapestry, bringing the stories of the past to life in a way that resonates deeply with me.’ 

two men working in a blacksmiths workshop
Original image: Blacksmith Shop, Clarendon, 1896, trove.nla.gov.au/work/208428523  

Feeling inspired? 

Has reading about Kelly’s project sparked your curiosity or inspired your own? Here are a few tips to finding public domain images – that you are free to remix and share – in Trove: 

  1. Start your search with a simple phrase or keyword. This could be a name, place, or topic. Then select the Images, Maps & Artefacts category. 
  2. Photographs taken before 1955 are out-of-copyright in Australia. Use advance search to limit the year range to before 1955. 
  3. You can also use advance search to filter your search results to images with ‘CC Public Domain’ rights. 

Learn how to check copyright in Trove.  

If you’ve used Trove for a creative or research project, we want to know! Share it with the Trove community on Facebook or X (Twitter)