Take a step back in time and look in on Melbourne streets as they were 100 years ago.

In these unique digital montages, Melbourne people of 1914 mingle with their 21st century counterparts on streets that retain an uncanny resemblance to the way they were.

Victorians, seemingly oblivious to the impending war, stand on street corners chatting, their lives merged with their modern counterparts who scurry about their business.

The original photographs were taken around 1914 on glass plate negatives.

The photographers used large format field cameras, propped on the back of trucks, or standing precariously on shop awnings – unrestricted by modern OHS laws.

To match the perspective and view of the old cameras, the modern scenes were created from a mash-up of three to five photographs taken on a digital camera.

Each image has been hand-blended from the old and new to create individual digital montages bringing together the lives of Melbourne people going about their daily routines despite the separation of a century of history.

The experience of 'being Australian' hadn't yet been defined on the battlefields of Gallipoli and the Western Front; Australia was about to change in unimaginable ways when these photographs were taken, but in some ways, as the montages suggest, perhaps Melbourne hasn't changed that much.

Elizabeth Street looking south towards Flinders Street Railway Station from Bourke Street. A view showing the Brunswick tram and a mix of horse drawn and motorised vehicles. The State Savings Bank, which is shown on the right of the image, became the head office of the bank before it was taken over by Commonwealth Bank. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: Kerr Brothers. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )

Looking east down Flinders Street with the old fish market (demolished in 1956) in the right foreground, showing the spire and clock tower. Horse drawn carriages, pedestrians and trams share the street. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: Unknown photographer. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )

Looking from William Street across the intersection with Lonsdale Street towards the Law Courts. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: Unknown photographer. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )

Crowds entering the Collingwood football ground at Victoria Park, Collingwood, for a match against South Melbourne, circa 1914. In 1914 Collingwood hosted South Melbourne in round 17, with the visitors winning 8.9.57 to Collingwood's 4.12.36. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: Unknown photographer. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )

Tram signed 'Lonsdale Street', travelling towards the city along St Kilda Road at the junction with High Street. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: Unknown photographer. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )

Looking east along Bourke Street, Melbourne, from Queen Street showing the premises of John Danks & Sons Pty. Ltd. on the right. The building remains as a residential development. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: John Henry Harvey. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )

Looking north across Yarra River towards Flinders Street railway lines and buildings, with Southbank - just a muddy track - in the foreground. ( 1914 - State Library of Victoria: Unknown photographer. 2014 - 774 ABC Melbourne: John Donegan )