“I started walking around Ashbury, Ashfield, Burwood, Haberfield, Croydon and Croydon Park to get fit,” Colin explained.
“I became increasingly fascinated by the leadlight windows in the houses in these suburbs.
“I could see houses with windows falling into disrepair, buildings being demolished and in some instances, the leadlight being replaced by modern windows.
“I began to take a camera with me in an attempt to document what I was seeing. I don’t know how far I will get but I am motivated to record as much of the leadlight that I can.”
Colin Webb
“I began to take a camera with me in an attempt to document what I was seeing. I don’t know how far I will get but I am motivated to record as much of the leadlight that I can.”
Colin says he only takes photographs from the street.
“What I have found incredibly rewarding is the amazing diversity of the housing and, accordingly, the amazing diversity there is in the leadlight,” he said.
“There was a rush of development in the late 1880s and a massive building period after Federation and between the wars. There are mansions for the rich and small weatherboard cottages for those of modest means. You only really get to appreciate this diversity on foot.
“These leadlight windows are beautiful artefacts that record, in lead and glass, some of the significant social and political influences in Australia from the 1890s to 1940 and, the rise of the middle class.”
“If there are others afflicted by similar interests I would welcome their advice and possibly company exploring the streets so this could become a collective endeavour.”
For more info, including if you can send him a photo from the inside of your leadlight window, head to innerwestleadlight.com