These extraordinary pictures capture both the joyful and solemn events of Christmas in Australia during the last 100 years.
The photographic collection from the State Library of New South Wales showcases festive celebrations across the state from as far back as 1918.
The black and white collection includes photos of children celebrating Christmas at a Sydney orphanage, while another shows a couple sharing a warm embrace at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on December 25, 1944.
A food truck is seen offering a ‘big piece’ of cake for free for every child that attends the Hoyts cinema in Enmore, Newtown on Christmas Eve in 1938.
Another snap shows a group of elderly men at the Salvation Army’s ‘Old Men’s Home’ Christmas party on December 25, 1940.
A man dressed as Santa Clause costume is pictured arriving to a Christmas gathering in a chariot driven by a sheikh in 1930.
A man dressed in a costume is seen embracing his partner and kissing her outside the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 1944
Two young children holding presents are seen smiling at Santa Claus who is surrounded by Christmas presents
This black and white photo shows a packed Newcastle Beach, north of Sydney, on Christmas Day in 1954
A large group are seen posing for a photo in front of a Christmas tree during a fancy dress party in December, 1935
A group of children are pictured with their Christmas presents, including a broomstick and s toy doll, on December 25 in 1934
A group of elderly men are pictured at the Salvation Army’s ‘Old Men’s Home’ Christmas party on December 25, 1940
A man and two children are seen posing for a photograph as they stand outside a milk bar on Christmas Day back in 1934
A group of children are pictured celebrating Christmas at an orphanage in Westmead in Sydney’s west in December, 1948
Radio station 2CH’s children’s Christmas party at Sydney’s Trocadero dance and concert hall in December 1936
A man dressed as Santa Clause is pictured handing out presents to children at 2CH’s Christmas party in 1936
Four children are seen performing for an audience in an undated photo during a Christmas camp in Gerringong, NSW
Two women are pictured decorating a Christmas tree on December 24, 1937. The picture is part of a collection from the State Library of New South Wales
Two children are seen smiling at a man in a Santa Clause costume in a photograph taken in November, 1941
A van is seen outside Sydney’s Enmore Theatre offering free cake to children in a photograph taken on Christmas Eve, 1938
Children are offered presents by a man in a Santa Clause costume during 2CH’s Christmas party at Trocadero in 1936
Staff and patients at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital are pictured on Christmas Day in 1944
A group of children are greeted by a man dressed as Santa Clause at a private children’s home in December, 1939
Staff and patients are pictured celebrating Christmas in December 1944 outside the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney
The Methodist Mission is pictured delivering presents to disadvantaged children in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo on December 25, 1938
People pose for a photo with a camel on Christmas Day in 1936 outside what was once the Royal South Sydney Hospital
A group of young children are pictured watching a Christmas show at an unknown location in November 1939
Young children are seen posing for a photograph with a man dressed as Santa Clause at an unknown location in November, 1941
Loading aeroplanes with Christmas supplies for transport to flood bound ‘Tinnenburra’ station in Queensland. Bourke railway station is seen in the background
A family is pictured picking Christmas Bells at Lime Burners Creek in Port Macquarie in December, 1918
A group of people are pictured standing outside Canon Hammond Christmas poor relief appeal tent in December, 1938
Siblings are pictured with their Christmas presents at a property in the New South Wales town of Alectown in an undated photo
A large group poses for a photo during Methodist Mission’s Christmas visit to poor in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo on December 25, 1938
Four men from Sydney’s Randwick and Coogee are pictured with toy wooden aeroplanes made for Christmas in 1934
A man in a Santa Clause costume and children pose for a picture during the I.O.O.F. Christmas party in Sydney’s Bexley, 1934
This 1933 photo shows sign advising customers to post Christmas mail to the United Kingdom by 9 November at Sydney’s Martin Place
A small child is seen sitting on the lap of a man dressed as Santa Clause in a photo taken at an unknown location in 1935
Children as seen during a Christmas party celebration in Sydney on December 18, 1937
A man dressed in Santa Clause costume is pictured arriving to a Christmas gathering in a chariot driven by a sheikh in 1930
A group of children are pictured at a Christmas party and in front of a Christmas tree at St. Anthony’s House in Croydon in 1934
A group of women are seen during radio station 2CH’s Christmas party at Sydney’s Trocadero club in December, 1937
This article was previously published by Daily Mail Australia in 2017.