Rennie Ellis, born in 1940 in Brighton, Melbourne, was an award-winning photographer who charmed and connected with the people he photographed. Educated at Brighton Grammar School, he won a scholarship to the University of Melbourne in 1959 but dropped out to embark on a two-year journey around the world. Returning to Australia, he focused on photography and capturing the essence of Melbourne. He established Brummels Gallery of Photography in South Yarra in 1972, the country's first photography gallery. In 1975, he moved his studio to Greville Street, Prahran, where he operated until his death in 2003. 

The State Library Victoria houses the largest public collection of Ellis's photographs, documenting his diverse practice from the late 1960s to the early 2000s, showcasing his role as a committed social chronicler of his time.

Our Rennie Ellis gallery pays tribute to images of ordinary people taking part in familiar and much-loved Melbourne pastimes.

From footy fans to sharpies, Toorak salesgirls to Fitzroy senior citizens, these photos give a taste of the diverse social history Ellis documented during the 1960s, '70s and '80s.