Sydney Star Observer - Key Photographers

This collection contains stock photographs taken by key photographers associated with the free gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender magazine the Sydney Star Observer (previously known as The Star, The Sydney Star). The publication, now called The Star Observer is still operating (now online). The photographs were donated to the City of Sydney in 2011 by SSO Media who were selling the magazine at the time. 

The subject content ranges from Mardi Gras parades and Fair Days, DIVA awards, fundraising events, protests, media campaigns, book launches, promotional images for films and theatre productions, celebrations, parties, pub and nightclub culture.

The earliest photographs from circa 1979-1984 are in the Michael Glynn collection. Michael Glynn was the founder (1979) and first editor of the magazine. He sold the paper in 1984. The City would like to thank the executor of the Michael Glynn estate.

The remaining photographs from circa 1985-2011 are mainly from the Sydney Star Observer and were often arranged into subject based manila folders. Photographs remain copyright to the photographer. For permission to use, please refer to the Public Access Note in the photograph items.  

Very little descriptive information accompanied the photographs. Archives volunteers have recorded what was available. Some information has been crowd sourced from photographers or the LGBTIQA+ community. The City of Sydney welcomes additional information such as dates, places, names and events. Once logged in and you find a photograph item, you can select the suggested edits function on the TOOLS menu.

It is unclear which photographs were published in the magazine, although some have percentage signs (%) - indicating the percentage of the photograph planned for publication. It is difficult to match photographs to issues, though a few had issue numbers recorded. Some photographs from the stock photograph library were culled by editors at various times so the collection is not complete. 

There are approximately 30,000 photographs in total. Only selected photographs have been digitised and released by the City Archives. For further information please contact the City Archives. Further photographs will be added to the collections as they are processed.