The Cessnock Library team is delighted to announce the opening of its latest photographic exhibition, 'Cessnock's Children', showcasing charming candid images of local kids captured by celebrated mid‑century photographer Laurel Minnie Rudd.
The free exhibition runs from 1 July to 21 August 2026 in the Vincent Street library's foyer.
In 2022, the library received an extraordinary donation - the Laurel Minnie Rudd archive - a trove of thousands of proof sheets, negatives, and prints documenting the daily lives of Cessnock residents between 1960 and 1970.
The collection offers a rare, intimate look at workers, families, and social gatherings, captured with Rudd's spontaneous, informal style that places subjects at ease with the local photographer.
Library staff, supported by volunteers, have spent the past two years painstakingly digitising the material, making it accessible to a new generation of Cessnock residents.
The first public display of Rudd's work in 2025 attracted immediate acclaim, as visitors delighted in seeing themselves, their parents, and neighbours on the library walls, all dressed in classic 1960s attire.
Building on that enthusiasm, 'Cessnock's Children' focuses on Cessnock's youngest inhabitants.
Highlights include:
- Homemade fancy‑dress ensembles that reveal the playful creativity of 1960s childhood
- Pouting tots and laughing siblings, captured in moments of genuine joy
- A cheeky, infectious informality that invites visitors to reminisce and smile
Library Services Coordinator Andrew Powell said visitors would leave the exhibition with a smile.
"We invite you to relive those joyful days and enjoy the latest Laurel Minnie Rudd photograph exhibition at Cessnock Library," said Mr Powell.
"You might even spot yourself, family, or friends."
Click here to find out what else is happening at Cessnock LGA's libraries.
