Northside: a time and place

by Warren Kirk

From the photographer behind Westography and Suburbia.

The past doesn't disappear. It leaves its traces everywhere. — Christos Tsiolkas

From West Brunswick to Reservoir, Fitzroy to Hadfield, Warren Kirk turns his keen eye upon the streets, buildings, and inhabitants of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, which are as iconic as they are rapidly changing. Both a tribute to the things we remember and a reminder to look anew at the world around us, the photos in Northside are a triumph of craft from an artist who invites us to really see.

Genres: Photography

144 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2020

Reviews

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warren Kirk is an Australian photographer living in Melbourne and Northside - A time and place is the first collection of his I've read. In it, he uses his creative eye to photograph people, workplaces, homes and buildings in Melbourne's northern suburbs and the results are engrossing.

Northside begins with an introduction by well known author Christos Tsiolkas who expertly prepares the reader for the nostalgic journey to the past which is to follow.

This collection focusses on scenes that seem frozen in time and they made me incredibly nostalgic for a lost era; a time not too long ago that still exists in little known pockets of society that Kirk seems to have a knack for uncovering.

Some of the photos had an exhilarating effect, making me want to jump up and help clean a workspace or re-arrange the shelf displays in a milk bar while others had a calming effect, as thoughts of previous generations and the lives they led in those places washed over me.

Kirk's photographs stir reflections about the human impact on the spaces we inhabit, the immigrant experience, appreciation for the work ethic of blue collar workers and nostalgia for an era in time some of us can still recall or see in echoes all around us.

I dearly wish Kirk had provided some accompanying text for each of the photographs to explain a little about the subjects or subject matter, however I understand that not knowing anything about the subject matter forces the reader to imagine the life and spaces depicted.

Northside by Warren Kirk has captured and preserved a slice of Melbourne's social history that I believe is important and will be enjoyed by many.

* Copy courtesy of Scribe Publications *

[Scribe Publications]

In a way, the book isn’t just a tribute to the past – it’s also a reminder to keep looking for snippets of the past in the present. None of the images feel dated – they could been taken 10 years ago or just yesterday. Yes, the north has changed, but so much of what it once was is still there, hiding in plain sight. Northside is a call to keep the beauty of it alive.
China Santos, Broadsheet

Northside by Warren Kirk has captured and preserved a slice of Melbourne's social history that I believe is important and will be enjoyed by many. FOUR STARS
Carpe Librum

Warren Kirk’s photographs are at once evocative yet mysterious. The Melbourne photographer doesn't provide any detail about his subjects, except the name of the suburb in which they were shot. He’s happy to let the images do the story-telling.
Kerrie O’Brien, Sydney Morning Herald

[Luke Illeniram · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels a little like cheating to include this photographic book in my GoodReads, but I needed to get my thoughts and review across for anyone considering getting this book.

Growing up in West Brunswick, and living in the Moreland area for (almost) my entire life, it was amazing to see the spirit and essence of this area caught so beautifully by Warren Kirk. Seeing the elderly Mediterranean men and women in their living rooms, their workshops etc, conjured such vivid nostalgia about my own Nonno and Nonna in Pascoe Vale, and the very particular aesthetic inherent in the migrant-populated areas in the Northside. From beaten up old cars, to flaking paint on outdated or closed businesses, to the slapdash gardens, and everything in between, this book is important to me for posterity of an area and essence that is rapidly changing.

It is hard to see the old buildings of my childhood torn down and local businesses close, but thanks to Warren Kirk, we have a perfect reminder of what once was, and in some places, still is.

[Kevin Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The popular image of Australia is one of barren outback deserts and dense rainforest teeming with (dangerous) wildlife, but the reality is that Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, and the overwhelming majority of its population live in cities and their surrounding suburbs. Warren Kirk's photographic collection, "Northside", is a sweet and humane glimpse of the northern suburbs of Melbourne, capturing shopfronts, old cars, proud homeowners and cluttered workspaces that characterise the area, which became home to the first wave of European migrants who made Melbourne their home in the decades following World War Two. I grew up in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and I've long been fascinated by shopfronts and facades of old businesses, and love to speculate about the people who owned and patronised them, and the role they play in shaping our everyday urban landscape. Kirk's book is a kind of suburban anthropological/archaeological photographic record, but I loved it as much for the portraits of the people sprinkled throughout this book who made the northern suburbs of Melbourne their home. The introduction by Australian author Christos Tsiolkas is a bittersweet accompaniment to the images.

[Wade Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply presented — just suburb name and a photo. At first I wanted more. I wanted the stories behind the images. But the more I sat on it and ruminated, the more I embraced his approach. The reader gets to fill in the stories and the narratives and, rather than a bunch of individual photos, it create a cohesive whole. A photobook full of wonderful photography, personalities, and memories. It's a glorious hit of nostalgia. This is a brilliant gift for anyone living in Melbourne, or Australia for that matter. Actually, I'm from Canada and I connected with many of the scenes and memories of childhood (I'm pushing 40). So much wood panelling. Give it a go. It's the kind of book that every so often you'll take off the shelve and notice something entirely new, and entirely delightful.

[Anna Bucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with no words, bar the names of the suburbs where each picture was taken. No words are needed, as the photos tell so many stories that bring a tear to my eye, as they recall many memories from my childhood that are so evocative. Brilliant work! A must in any book lover’s collection!

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of photos taken in Melbourne's northern suburbs. A reminder of the various ethnic groups that first lived in the area. Nostalgic and beautiful in its kitschy look behind closed doors.

[Rania T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nostalgic journey via photography into the disappearing Post War Immigrant lives of Melbourne's Northern Suburbs.