'Railway Station, Adelaide'
An original etching (printed surface 168 × 250 mm), with the title, edition details (4/30) and signature of the artist in pencil in the margin below the image; in fine condition, mounted and matted, ready for framing. This is a distinctly modern impression of the newly-rebuilt Adelaide Railway Station, completed in 1928. The etching would appear to be contemporary, and it certainly has a contemporary mastery of line and space. 'The new station comprised a massive sandstone building in neo-classical style. The upper three storeys housed the railways administration, which had previously been scattered in various buildings around the city. The concourse had many facilities to cater for long distance travellers as well as daily commuters - a dining room, hairdressers, and refreshment rooms. Of particular note was the enormous domed Marble Hall, which served as a grand and dignified main waiting room, and is now incorporated into the Adelaide Casino. The new station had 13 platforms, each covered by an individual canopy to alleviate the problems of smoke and fumes previously endured with an overall roof. The cost of the rebuilding greatly exceeded the original budget and the project became a source of great controversy within South Australia as the state came close to bankruptcy with the onset of the Great Depression' (Wikipedia). London-born John Charles Goodchild (1898-1980) emigrated with his family to South Australia in 1913; he served on the Western Front with the 9th Field Ambulance, AIF. He established himself as an artist, educator and arts administrator in Adelaide after the war. Consult the 'Australian Dictionary of Biography' for more on this interesting artist.
Item #107147
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