Via Artivisory:
A unique pair of unpublished 35mm slides of the Beatles when they visited Melbourne in 1964, outside the Southern Cross Hotel where they appeared as a band of five, with the stand-in drummer Jimmy Nichol.
The collection of the photographer's son who has kindly provided the following history to these unique images:
"My father was a photographer and only happened to have his camera with him when the Beatles arrived because my sister's 21st birthday was held in the Southern Cross Hotel the previous night and the family had stayed over.
Kenn Brodziac, the tour promoter, had his office at the Southern Cross and enjoyed good relations with my father, often providing free tickets to his shows - this was the case with my sister and I - we were comped for the Beatles.
By the time the Beatles arrived, my sisters and I were in one of the rooms opening onto the Ist floor canopy facing Exhibition Street. A huge crowd, mainly girls, was surging in front of the hotel when a motorcade arrived, escorted by police cars and mounted police, who struggled to keep the crowd back. It turned out to be a diversion. Meanwhile, the Beatles went down the ramp into the hotel's underground carpark. The crowd set up a chant of "We Want The Beatles" and they duly appeared a few minutes later. My father was standing on the canopy near the rail where they waved to the crowd.
At some point later in the day, the Beatles were hosted at the General Manager's flat in the hotel, where my father took their picture. This was the last time Jimmy Nichol, the stand-in drummer,
(shown in these images) was seen with them."
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