Shocked & Scandalised at the State Library NSW, Sydney

The sedate pace of my meander through the State Library NSW kicked up a notch or two when I descended the stairs to the bowels of the Library to the dim recesses of the PIX: The magazine that changed everything exhibition.

The sign at the entrance gave a clear warning that some of the content in the exhibition may offend, so with loins girded, I stepped into the murky depths of questionable journalism…

What is PIX?

• PIX: The magazine that changed everything exhibition highlights the role and history of Australia’s first pictorial news weekly. For over 30 years PIX scandalised, provoked, entertained and informed the Australian public through captivating stories and high-quality photography.
• PIX portrayed life in Australia – especially the lives of the glamorous, and sometimes outrageous, set. Voyeurism was alive and well in the early 20^th century!

• “Before social media, the internet or television – there was PIX magazine. Australia’s first picture-only news weekly, PIX hit newsstands in January 1938. An overnight success with Australian readers…”
• “…PIX embraced a bold, new and modern approach to visual storytelling, using photographs linked by brief captions to deliver picture-packed pages full of startling stories”.

• The warning sign at the entrance to the exhibition,

“PIX often told stories in ways which make for uncomfortable reading to today’s audiences. At a time when depictions of diversity of any kind were uncommon in mainstream magazines, many of the ways PIX represented race, gender, sexuality and disability are offensive and discriminatory”.

highlights the fact that PIX was ‘of its time’. It was often sexist and racist and, while this is definitely unacceptable these days, it does show how far we have come as a society…perhaps we still have a way to go too.

• This exhibition is a visual feast with an extensive range of photography, magazine articles, and interviews with early journalists, photographers and cover girls.

Where Is It?

• 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney – just on the edge of the CBD.
• The PIX exhibition is located on the Lower Ground level (LG1). You can access it via stairs a lift.

When to Visit?

• The Library is open seven days per week from 9am-8pm, with slightly shorter opening hours on weekends.
• The exhibition is open until 16 August 2026.

Why Visit?

• The exhibition is a journey back in time in Australian society and shows what values, and aspirations were predominant at the time. It’s interesting to see what we were like as a nation back then, even if it is not all that pretty.
• I loved how it captured the streetscapes and fashions of the day. Being a highly visual magazine, the images are fascinating and PIX was lauded as having some of the best photographers in Australia.

How to Get There?

• The easiest way to get to the State Library NSW is on foot.
• Alternatively, catch a taxi or bus, or the closest train station is at Martin Place.

Who is it for?

• This exhibition will appeal to a very wide demographic.
• Journalism students may be interested in the evolution of PIX magazine, its morphing into People magazine and eventual closure.
• Photography students may be interested in the vast array of natural and posed images, captured by both highly experienced and novice photographers.
• Older people may enjoy the short stroll down memory lane.
• This exhibition is definitely not for those who are easily offended. Much of the content would not be acceptable if printed in today’s magazines, so visit at your peril if you are a sensitive soul. 😊

General Comments:

• I can vaguely remember old copies of PIX magazine floating around the house, or maybe it was its next iteration, PEOPLE. From memory it was printed on cheap, flimsy paper and featured a lot of scantily clad women. Not all that interesting to a young kid.
• I can only imagine the outrage caused by this magazine amid conservative Australia, and no doubt, it sold like hot cakes!

• Interestingly, there was a strong connection between PIX and famous Australian photographer, Frank Hurley (he was the official photographer on a number of Antarctic expeditions starting from 1911 and was also an official war photographer). Frank Hurley had a very attractive daughter called Adelie and, while she started off as a PIX cover girl, she soon became one of their feature photographers. Nice to see a woman on the other side of the camera for a change.

While this exhibition will not be everyone’s cuppa with its content a little too raw, I found it interesting to step back in time for a short while. A very short, but interesting place to walk on a Monday.

What about you? Should this subject matter be left in the cupboard as we move on? Or is it still useful as a conversation starter?

#travelinspo #StateLibraryNSW #Sydney #freethingstodo #mustsee #tours #PIXmagazine #exhibitions #libraries #PEOPLEmagazine #historicbuildings #journalism #cheaprags #freeevents #shhhhh #talks #politicallyincorrect #signofthetimes #adeliehurley #warningsigns