Sydney · 1870 — 1879

Sydney in the 1870s

In the 1870s a photographer could stand at Pyrmont, put grazing cattle in the foreground, and still get the Town Hall's clock tower and St Andrew's spire on the skyline behind them. It dates to within three years by what is finished in it and what is not, and it describes the decade about as well as anything: a stone city a mile or so across, and then paddocks.

Walk out from the wool warehouses and the masts — Mort & Co on Sydney Cove, the timber sheds along the Sussex Street side of Darling Harbour — and the ground turns rural fast. A wooden post mill was still working on Henry Hough's Hope Farm beside the Old South Head Road at Waverley; it had turned since the 1840s and was one of the last windmills in Sydney, and Samuel Elyard's watercolour of it carries his own note that it had been removed by 1873. Out at The Gap, John Cocks kept a two-storey corner hotel licensed for spirits and advertising London porter to whoever had come to look at the cliffs. The railway had reached Springwood on 11 July 1867, and the Springwood Hotel stands behind a paling fence on an unmade road with the bush at its shoulder.

A good deal of this survives because of a business model rather than a public purpose. The American & Australasian Photographic Company came up from Victoria in September 1870 and worked the way Beaufoy Merlin had always worked: photograph the house, the shopfront, the hotel, then sell the print to the people standing in front of it. Merlin, his young assistant Charles Bayliss, and the negatives they made between about 1872 and 1876 are why a publican's corner at South Head is recorded as carefully as Parliament House.

The institutions were being built at that same distance out. Edmund Blacket's St Stephen's went up inside Camperdown Cemetery at Newtown between 1871 and 1874, and the University's Gothic range at Camperdown was photographed across open grass with nothing behind it yet. Watch the fence lines. They are where Sydney stopped.

51 works
Sunset over the mountain ranges, East Haldon, from the edge of the Darling Downs — illustration, from East Haldon, circa 1878
illustration·1878

Sunset over the mountain ranges, East Haldon, from the edge of the Darling Downs

Views of Pilton Station, Darling Downs, Qld., Darling Downs, with a view of Moreton Bay and one of Sydney Harbour, 1870, 1873 and ca. 1878Wilson, W. G.
Manning family house, rue Neuve-de-Berri, Paris — illustration, from Rue de Berri, circa 1870
illustration·1870·Rue de Berri

Manning family house, rue Neuve-de-Berri, Paris

Views of residences of the Manning family, ca. 1860-1870Manning family
Darling Harbour from Balmain, 1879 — illustration, from Darling Harbour, circa 1879
illustration·1882·Sydney CBD

Darling Harbour from Balmain, 1879

Sketches in New South Wales and Victoria, 1855-1882 / by J.B. HendersonHenderson, J. B. (John Black), 1827-1918
Hough's Windmill, Old South Head Road, Waverley — illustration, from Mill Hill Road, circa 1873
illustration·1854·Bondi Junction

Hough's Windmill, Old South Head Road, Waverley

Views, mainly of Sydney, Nowra and TeraraElyard, Samuel, 1817-1910
Distant town beyond fenced grazing paddocks, New South Wales — photograph, circa 1875
photograph·1875

Distant town beyond fenced grazing paddocks, New South Wales

Photographic views of N.S.W. [New South WalesState Library NSW
Cocks' Family Hotel at The Gap, South Head — photograph, from The Gap, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Watsons Bay

Cocks' Family Hotel at The Gap, South Head

The Gap, South Head (?)American & Australasian Photographic Company
First Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour — photograph, from Pyrmont Bridge, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

First Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour

Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour, SydneyState Library NSW
St Stephen's Church and Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown — photograph, from Camperdown Cemetery, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Newtown

St Stephen's Church and Camperdown Cemetery, Newtown

St. Stephen's Church, NewtownJ.R. Clarke
Coogee Bay from the sandstone cliffs, 1874 — photograph, from Coogee Bay, circa 1874
photograph·1874·Coogee Bay

Coogee Bay from the sandstone cliffs, 1874

Item 03: Coogee Bay, New South Wales, [1874Mr Whittle
Colonial Secretary's Office at Macquarie and Bridge Streets, Sydney — photograph, from Chief Secretary's Building, circa 1879
photograph·1879·Sydney CBD

Colonial Secretary's Office at Macquarie and Bridge Streets, Sydney

Colonial Secretary's Office, SydneyState Library NSW
Rushcutters Bay and Policeman's Cottage, looking toward Darling Point — photograph, from Rushcutters Bay, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Rushcutters Bay

Rushcutters Bay and Policeman's Cottage, looking toward Darling Point

Rushcutter's Bay, SydneyJ. R. Clarke
Middle Harbour through gum trees, Sydney, 1878 — photograph, from Sydney, circa 1878
photograph·1878

Middle Harbour through gum trees, Sydney, 1878

Middle Harbour, SydneyState Library NSW
St Andrew's College, University of Sydney, shortly after completion — photograph, from St. Andrew's College Main Building, circa 1876
photograph·1876·Camperdown

St Andrew's College, University of Sydney, shortly after completion

St Andrew's College, SydneyState Library NSW
Sydney Town Hall under construction, clock tower complete — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Sydney CBD

Sydney Town Hall under construction, clock tower complete

Sydney Town Hall under constructionState Library NSW
Farm Cove from across the water, with shipping at anchor — photograph, from Farm Cove, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Farm Cove

Farm Cove from across the water, with shipping at anchor

Farm Cove, Sydney HarbourState Library NSW
General Post Office, Sydney, with the projecting three-faced clock — photograph, from Sydney General Post Office, circa 1878
photograph·1878·Sydney CBD

General Post Office, Sydney, with the projecting three-faced clock

General Post Office, SydneyState Library NSW
Sydney skyline across Darling Harbour from Pyrmont, c.1875 — photograph, from Pyrmont, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Pyrmont

Sydney skyline across Darling Harbour from Pyrmont, c.1875

City of Sydney [from PyrmontJ. R. Clarke
Hunter River New Steam Navigation Company warehouse, Darling Harbour, March 1871 — photograph, from Darling Harbour, circa 1871
photograph·1871·Darling Harbour

Hunter River New Steam Navigation Company warehouse, Darling Harbour, March 1871

Sydney, March 1871State Library NSW
Allan Cunningham monument, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney — photograph, from Royal Botanic Garden, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Sydney CBD

Allan Cunningham monument, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Botanic Gardens [SydneyState Library NSW
Royal Standard Hotel and the wharves of Darling Harbour — photograph, from Sydney, circa 1870
photograph·1870

Royal Standard Hotel and the wharves of Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour, Sydneyphotographer unknown
George Street, Sydney, with Riley Brothers drapers and C. Gardner's shops — photograph, from George Street, circa 1879
photograph·1879·Haymarket

George Street, Sydney, with Riley Brothers drapers and C. Gardner's shops

George Street, SydneyState Library NSW
Interior of the Parliamentary Library, Parliament House, Sydney — photograph, from Parliament of New South Wales, circa 1871
photograph·1871·Sydney CBD

Interior of the Parliamentary Library, Parliament House, Sydney

Parliamentary Library, SydneyNew South Wales. Government Printing Office
The Domain, Sydney, with the corner of Victoria Lodge — photograph, from The Domain, circa 1877
photograph·1877·Sydney CBD

The Domain, Sydney, with the corner of Victoria Lodge

The Domain, SydneyState Library NSW
General Post Office, Sydney, by Charles Bayliss, c.1878 — photograph, from Sydney General Post Office, circa 1878
photograph·1878·Sydney CBD

General Post Office, Sydney, by Charles Bayliss, c.1878

General Post Office, Sydney] / C. Bayliss Photo, SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897
Woolloomooloo rooftops and Forbes Street frontage, ca. 1875–1885 — photograph, from Woolloomooloo, circa 1875
photograph·1880·Woolloomooloo

Woolloomooloo rooftops and Forbes Street frontage, ca. 1875–1885

Woolloomooloo, SydneyState Library NSW
Sydney Town Hall with completed clock tower — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Sydney CBD

Sydney Town Hall with completed clock tower

Town Hall [SydneyState Library NSW
Sydney Town Hall with its completed clock tower — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Sydney CBD

Sydney Town Hall with its completed clock tower

Sydney Town HallState Library NSW
University of Sydney main building and Great Hall, after 1874 — photograph, from University of Sydney Footbridge Theatre, circa 1874
photograph·1874·Camperdown

University of Sydney main building and Great Hall, after 1874

University of SydneyState Library NSW
University of Sydney Main Building and Great Hall, c.1874 — photograph, from Parramatta Road, circa 1874
photograph·1874·Camperdown

University of Sydney Main Building and Great Hall, c.1874

University of SydneyState Library NSW
Sydney Cove from George Street, with Mort & Co. wool warehouses and shipping — photograph, from Sydney Cove, circa 1876
photograph·1876·Sydney Cove

Sydney Cove from George Street, with Mort & Co. wool warehouses and shipping

Sydney CoveState Library NSW
Sydney Grammar School, College Street, 1870 — photograph, from College Street, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Sydney Grammar School, College Street, 1870

Sydney Grammar School, College Street, SydneyState Library NSW
Sydney Cove with shipping and a careened vessel, after John Skinner Prout — illustration, from Sydney Cove, circa 1870
illustration·1870·Sydney Cove

Sydney Cove with shipping and a careened vessel, after John Skinner Prout

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Sydney rooftops from the Town Hall clocktower, 1873 — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, circa 1873
photograph·1873·Sydney CBD

Sydney rooftops from the Town Hall clocktower, 1873

Panorama of Sydney taken from Sydney Town HallRobinson, Francis W.
Album leaf from "Views of Old Sydney": Garden Palace, Middle Head guns and a harbour landing — photograph, from Sydney CBD, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Album leaf from "Views of Old Sydney": Garden Palace, Middle Head guns and a harbour landing

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Springwood Hotel, with paling fence and dirt road — photograph, from Springwood, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Springwood

Springwood Hotel, with paling fence and dirt road

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Colonial Treasury, Macquarie and Bridge Streets, Sydney — photograph, from Macquarie Street, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Colonial Treasury, Macquarie and Bridge Streets, Sydney

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
George Street shopfronts, Sydney, February 1871 — photograph, from George Street, circa 1871
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

George Street shopfronts, Sydney, February 1871

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Garden Palace dome above a pond in Sydney's Botanic Gardens — photograph, from Royal Botanic Garden, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Garden Palace dome above a pond in Sydney's Botanic Gardens

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Carriageway and gate in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney — photograph, from Royal Botanic Garden, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Carriageway and gate in the Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Sydney harbour with warehouses and sailing ships, 1870s–1890s — photograph, from Sydney CBD, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Sydney harbour with warehouses and sailing ships, 1870s–1890s

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Sailing ships moored along a Sydney harbour foreshore — photograph, from Sydney CBD, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Sailing ships moored along a Sydney harbour foreshore

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Harbour and gardens from Government House, Sydney — photograph, from Government House, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Harbour and gardens from Government House, Sydney

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Sydney Town Hall with completed clock tower, before Centennial Hall — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, circa 1875
photograph·1875·Sydney CBD

Sydney Town Hall with completed clock tower, before Centennial Hall

Town Hall [SydneyState Library NSW
Post Office at Wynyard Square, Sydney — photograph, from Wynyard, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Wynyard

Post Office at Wynyard Square, Sydney

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Macquarie Street terrace row, Sydney, March 1871 — photograph, from Macquarie Street, circa 1871
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Macquarie Street terrace row, Sydney, March 1871

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Coaching party at Government House, Sydney, in the 1870s — photograph, from Government House, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Coaching party at Government House, Sydney, in the 1870s

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Hyde Park Barracks and the Mint seen across the park, Sydney — photograph, from Queens Square, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Hyde Park Barracks and the Mint seen across the park, Sydney

Views of Old SydneyBayliss, Charles, 1850-1897; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)
Inscribed rock at Mrs Macquarie's Road, Sydney Domain — photograph, from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, circa 1870
photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Inscribed rock at Mrs Macquarie's Road, Sydney Domain

Mrs Macquarie's Chair, SydneyAmerican & Australasian Photographic Company