The 2019–2020 NSW Bushfires

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Images submitted to the NSW Government Inquiry

The photographs and other images that accompanied submissions to the NSW Bushfire Inquiry tell many stories and highlight the range of topics addressed. Some images capture the terrible loss and trauma suffered by individuals, families and communities, while others illustrate historical, technical or operational aspects of bushfire prevention.

Accompanying the images in the gallery are links to the original submissions. This helps to understand the context and story behind each image. When individuals made a submission, they indicated if they were willing to have it published with their name, published anonymously or withheld fully from publication. As such, some photographs are identified by name, while others are marked ‘anonymous’. Permission was also sought to publish the images in this online gallery; as such it does not include every submitted image.

Especially graphic images, such as of injured persons, were received and considered by the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, but these were not included in the published report. They were also removed from digitised copies of submissions.

The images received by the inquiry vary in file format, image resolution and size. Where possible, the online gallery maintains the images with their original properties.

Using this gallery

You can scroll through the images individually by using the forward or back arrows that will appear when you hover your cursor over the image. Similarly, you can use the arrows in the thumbnails bar, then click on a thumbnail to display the full sized image above.

Use the other icons at the top right of the viewer pane to hide or reveal the thumbnail images or choose a full screen display.

Using the triangular ‘play’ button at the top right of the viewer pane will show the images in a slideshow, with each displayed briefly.

In the caption accompanying each image is a link to the individual submission from which it is taken.

Copyright notice

All images contained in this display are subject to copyright and are presented here with permission. The published Final Report of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry is also copyright. See page 2 of the Report for further details.