The Impressions of Elsie May Waples exhibition will open at the Nowra Museum this Saturday and continue until Christmas.

A number of her stunning photographs from the 1920s and ’30s will be on display.

A self-taught amateur photographer, many of her images have survived, providing a unique glimpse into rural life in the Shoalhaven.

Shoalhaven Historical Society secretary Tim Rigney said the organisation first became aware of Mrs Waples’ work when it started appearing on the Shoalhaven in the 20th Century Website.

“Her work was stunning,” he said. “It was an incredible history of our local area. We knew we just had to have an exhibition.”

The society contacted her children, Glenn and Lois, who still live locally, and Ena, who lives in Cairns, who gladly agreed to allow their mother’s work to be displayed.

“Mum died when I was still young, about nine or so,” Mr Waples said.

“We always had photos around the home, albums and the like, we just thought it was the norm.

“We never realised how important her photos were at the time but she was recording the area’s history.”

He has several hundred negatives she took on her Box Brownie camera, which they think was a gift from her husband Arthur.

“I went through her negatives, which was a big job on its own, and printed up around 290 odd photos,” he said.

Around 70 will be displayed in the exhibit.

The third of 11 children of Alonzo Charles and Elizabeth Lymbery (nee McPherson), she was born in 1902 and lived nearly all her life at Burrier.

She married Arthur Waples at the All Saints Anglican Church in Nowra in 1925, who was the head teacher at Burrier School and a talented painter.

As well as capturing many family moments around Burrier, the family would take trips to areas like Kangaroo Valley and Huskisson, where she photographed what was happening at the time.

Mrs Waples printed a lot of her own photos. All that was needed for home developing in the 1920s was a supply of chemicals and access to water.

Chemicals in tablet form were available from Burroughs and Wellcome, Sydney, together with photographic paper.

She produced contact prints using albumen silver photographic paper.

She would place the negative in direct contact with light-sensitive photographic paper in a wooden printing frame, which she then exposed to the sun until the image appeared.

In the 1940s she was diagnosed with cancer and the family moved to Nowra to be nearer medical treatment. She passed away in 1951, aged 49.

As well as the exhibition the Nowra Museum has some wonderful items of local history on display and to encourage visitors, for the next six months entry is free.

The museum is open Saturday and Sunday: 1pm- 4pm,  Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1pm-4pm during school holidays and other times by appointment.

Group bookings are welcome.