Obviously making light of her task as bearer, Hazel nonchalantly knits while Wal Balmus hand-balances off her hips.

Image: George Caddy, 30 October 1938 a2391019

Bondi Jitterbug: Shoebox discovery reveals forgotten story of Australia’s most famous beach*

A shoebox of forgotten negatives unearthing an extraordinary aspect of Bondi’s colourful history from the 1930s and 40s are revealed for the first time, via a new photographic exhibition at the State Library of NSW.

Bondi Jitterbug: George Caddy and his Camera features 60 striking black-and-white images of the strongmen and gymnasts of the time performing their outrageous ‘beachobatics’, captured by local amateur photographer, George Caddy.

According to Alan Davies, the State Library’s Curator of Photographs: “Incredibly, the negatives remained undisturbed for 60 years and this remarkable discovery has produced the only record of this fascinating, lost story of Bondi Beach.”

Beachobatics were dramatic gymnastic displays with daring manoeuvres like the “throw up bird” and “jack knife”, executed by members of the Graham Men’s Gymnastic Club. The club boasted celebrity member Wal Balmus who shot to fame as Tarzan in the Tarzan’s Grip logo.

Discovered last year by the late photographer’s son, George’s images of parading lifesavers, fashionable sunbathers and beachobatics astounded Alan Davies who says his work rivals his contemporary, Max Dupain.

“George was everything Max wasn’t because he obviously loved photographing people; there’s an extraordinary photo of a man standing on top of a sunbaker which pre-dates Max’s iconic Sunbaker,” says Mr Davies.

Interestingly, George was better known for his dancing, winning jitterbugging contests in Sydney at places like the Trocadero.

Exhibition visitors will be entertained by an old news reel of jitterbug dancing and rare colour film footage of Bondi from 1938. Plus, there’s a novelty photo board where visitors can take a digital image of themselves as a gymnast on Bondi Beach.

Of the 900 images George produced, only 290 still exist. His carefree weekends ended when he enlisted in the army during WWII and spent the years 1941 to 1945 as a gunner in a heavy anti-aircraft battery, stationed near Brisbane. For reasons unknown, George did not continue with his photographic work when he returned home in 1946.

Bondi Jitterbug: George Caddy and his Camera is a free exhibition at the State Library of NSW until; 22 February 2009. Information: (02) 9273 1414.

*Based on media release issued by the State Library of NSW.