More cameras than people

@JudyEv (351191)
Rockingham, Australia
January 9, 2025 7:00pm CST
The photo is of a rock-pool in the general area of Meckering. Meckering (population 200-odd) in Western Australia made a name for itself when, in 1968, an earthquake reduced much of the town to rubble. In 1995, Charles Wadley bought an abandoned petrol station and converted it to a camera museum. It is now the largest private collection of working film and plate cameras in the southern hemisphere, housing over 4,000 items dating back to the late 1800s. The facade of the museum now resembles a giant SLR camera. Mr Wadley is sent cameras from all over the world and manages to get them back into working order, sometimes having to make parts himself. The museum was closed when we were there but we have plans to visit there soon.
19 people like this
20 responses
@rakski (135464)
• Philippines
10 Jan
sounds like the Meckering Camera Museum is a fascinating destination, especially for photography enthusiasts and history buffs like you and Vince
3 people like this
@rakski (135464)
• Philippines
10 Jan
@JudyEv that's definitely sure
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
I'm sure we'll enjoy looking through the museum one day.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15235)
• Hong Kong
10 Jan
That would be an interesting place to visit.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
Once we're on the road travelling, we'll be going to see it for ourselves.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (188074)
• United States
10 Jan
Oh Vince will be loving that. I bet he would like to be in there all day!
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
I might to take a book and sit in the car!
1 person likes this
• Philippines
10 Jan
Wow the photo was great, I love how it captures the place and the color was really nice.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
We do have some lovely scenery in Western Australia.
@Juliaacv (53139)
• Canada
10 Jan
You would both really enjoy visiting that museum when it is open. I remember my parents having a camera with the large flashbulb which had a steel screen behind it and attached to the camera.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
Some people are going back to using film - just because they can I guess.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118722)
• Anniston, Alabama
10 Jan
I would love to see all those cameras.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
I'm hoping we'll get there one day soon.
@BarBaraPrz (49354)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Jan
I thought you were going to tell us that the earthquake caused that pool... doesn't look too deep but might be fun to splash in.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (49354)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Jan
@JudyEv Who said anything about diving? That's how necks get broken. I'd just slowly ease in...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
I don't think you'd want to be diving into it.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47719)
• India
18 Jan
Any picture of the museum? Sounds quite interesting. The collection is indeed quite huge !
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@ptrikha_2 (47719)
• India
23 Jan
@JudyEv Yes that would indeed be an interesting visit !!
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Jan
It was closed when we went there but we'll try again next time we're up that way.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73831)
• United States
10 Jan
That’s cool. The unfortunate thing is that most people today, especially the young people, don’t have a clue about worrying about your film being developed and if the pictures of your vacation came out well. I guess that’s a benefit of the phone camera (along with the fact that you’re not limited to 24 or 36 shots like you are with a roll of film), but there was something about a camera.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73831)
• United States
11 Jan
@JudyEv — I notice that when I go to places like Rose Island (where I went last month): instead of having to stand there and memorize the informational signs, I just take pictures of them because I have 128 gigs of space on my phone!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jan
@FourWalls I take photos of all the signs too. I can't remember stuff for too long any more.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
You didn't 'waste' shots like you do now - taking three or four in case one or two don't turn out! lol
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (143533)
• Roseburg, Oregon
10 Jan
All those cameras would be something to see.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
I bet there are some very old cameras there.
@noni1959 (10343)
• United States
10 Jan
It would be so interesting to visit the museum. I love old cameras and used to collect them. I hope you get to go back soon and share more stories.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
We went to something similar in England. It focussed on the man who had a big hand in developing the first cameras.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40401)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Jan
@JudyEv - That would be a very interesting museum to see! More cameras than people ... how fascinating!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
11 Jan
@JudyEv - Far too many wonderful collections end up getting sold off in bits and pieces.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jan
@DeborahDiane He is hoping it will all stay together. I hope that will be the case.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
It's sad that the owner is now in his 80s and has no-one to carry on the museum. I hope it goes somewhere where it will be appreciated.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (20305)
• London, England
10 Jan
I've never seen a plate camera, outside of a movie or TV. Quite amazing how much cameras have changed in the last twenty years.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
We visited a camera museum of sorts in the south of England. Quite fascinating how the process was developed.
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jan
@Ronrybs I managed to find my few photos of it and have written about it now. 'Museum' might be a misnomer but it was at Lacock, only about 100 miles from London. Perhaps you could cycle there one day!
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (20305)
• London, England
11 Jan
@JudyEv I didn't know there was a camera museum somewhere around here. I am a great fan of museums
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (186974)
• United States
11 Jan
Interesting that Mr. Wadley is able to repair all the cameras. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jan
I guess he's had a lot of practice over the years.
@wolfgirl569 (114793)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jan
Hope you see it soon
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
Once the weather cools down a little we'll be off.
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@RasmaSandra (84138)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jan
Sounds interesting and looks like a very beautiful place,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
I'm hooping we'll get there soon before he has to close it down. He is in his 80s now.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (31485)
• United Kingdom
10 Jan
If it wasn't so far away I could send two or three of mine!
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
We're hoping to get there as soon as the motor-home issues are sorted. The A/C in the cab isn't working and it would be very hot travelling without it. The owner is in his 80s and has no-one to leave the collection to.
1 person likes this
@just4him (318820)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Jan
It sounds like an interesting museum.
@just4him (318820)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Jan
@JudyEv I'm sure he will with his expertise with cameras.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan
Vince will find it especially fascinating.
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@Shiva49 (27111)
• Singapore
10 Jan
One needs not only the passion but also the skill to get old cameras into working condition. Charles Wadley has both
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
That's very true. There would be a lot of skill involved.
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@aureategloom (11044)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
10 Jan
how did he come up with that idea i hope you get to visit the place in future
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@JudyEv (351191)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan
I guess he just likes cameras.