25 July to 5 September, 2026
Story telling with hand printed photographs by Greg Branson BLOCKIES is a photographic exhibition featuring a collection of powerful black and white hand-printed silver gelatin photographs. The exhibition explores the devastating impact of the Soldier Settlement scheme on Australian soldiers who returned from the First World War. The Soldier Settlement scheme, established in 1917, aimed to provide returned soldiers, BLOCKIES, with land and resources to establish themselves as farmers. Unfortunately, the scheme was plagued by poor planning and inadequate support, leaving many soldiers struggling to make a living and ultimately leading to its failure.
BLOCKIES features a collection of haunting images of abandoned homes and sheds that tell the stories of the soldiers who were failed by the scheme. The photographs capture the beauty and starkness of the Australian landscape, while also revealing the struggles and hardships faced by the soldiers who tried to make a living on the land. According to photographer, Greg Branson, the images were inspired by the buildings he saw in Walpole, Western Australia, where his grandfather took up a soldier settler property. “I’ve shot images of buildings that reminded me of those I saw in Walpole. Since then I have researched the history of the Soldier Settlement scheme to tell the story behind these images,” says Branson. “I wanted to shine a light on the forgotten soldiers who returned home from the war and were failed by the very system that was supposed to support them,” says Branson. “These photographs are a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the importance of supporting those who serve our country.”
