Sydney CBD · 1870 — 1879

Sydney CBD in the 1870s

The 1870s were the decade Sydney decided what it wanted to look like. The colony had money from wool and gold, a Colonial Architect in James Barnet who intended to spend it in sandstone, and a city centre still low enough that a single tower changed the skyline. The Town Hall's clock tower rose over George Street in the early part of the decade and was, briefly, the tallest thing in Sydney — though the clock itself did not arrive until Gillett & Bland supplied one in 1883–84, so in these photographs the tower often stands complete and faceless.

Macquarie Street was the street of institutions: Parliament House, the Mint and the Hyde Park Barracks in Greenway's converted convict buildings, the Colonial Treasury and the Colonial Secretary's Office at the Bridge Street corner. Barnet's General Post Office was going up at the same time, its projecting three-faced clock hanging over what was not yet Martin Place. Beyond them the Domain and the Botanic Gardens were where the city went to be photographed at leisure — and where, in 1879, the Garden Palace would be thrown up in eight months for the Sydney International Exhibition, only to burn to the ground in a single morning on 22 September 1882.

Australian Gas Light Company gasworks and wharves, Darling Harbour — photograph, from Darling Harbour, c. 1870

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Australian Gas Light Company gasworks and wharves, Darling Harbour, c. 1870

Wharves at Darling Harbour including the Australian Gas Light Co

Sailing ships berthed at East Circular Quay with Government House beyond — photograph, from Sydney CBD, 1870

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Sailing ships berthed at East Circular Quay with Government House beyond, 1870

Government House from George Street, ship "La Hogue", Sydney, Dec. 1870New South Wales. Government Printing Office

Shipping at Grafton Wharf, Darling Harbour — photograph, from Darling Harbour, 1871

photograph·1871·Sydney CBD

Shipping at Grafton Wharf, Darling Harbour, 1871

Grafton Wharf, Darling Harbour, SydneyNew South Wales. Government Printing Office

English, Scottish & Australian Bank, George and King Streets, Sydney — photograph, from King Street, 1873

photograph·1873·Sydney CBD

English, Scottish & Australian Bank, George and King Streets, Sydney, 1873

A collection of photographs of buildings and views in New South Wales [Sydney and Zig Zag Railway, Lithgow] ... / Thomas Richards, Government PrinterNew South Wales. Government Printing Office

O'Connell Street corner hotel with 'Bath Room' sign beyond, Sydney — photograph, from O'Connell Street, 1870–75

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

O'Connell Street corner hotel with 'Bath Room' sign beyond, Sydney, 1870–75

Construction of the Centennial Hall, Sydney Town HallAmerican & Australasian Photographic Company

Darling Harbour wharves and the Sydney Gas Works, Port Jackson — photograph, from Darling Harbour, 1878

photograph·1878·Sydney CBD

Darling Harbour wharves and the Sydney Gas Works, Port Jackson, 1878

View of Darling Harbour, Port Jackson / Anglo-Australasian Photo Company, N.J. Caire, PhotoN. J. Caire

Darling Harbour wharves and the Royal Standard Hotel — photograph, from Darling Harbour, 1871

photograph·1871·Sydney CBD

Darling Harbour wharves and the Royal Standard Hotel, 1871

Darling Harbour, Feb 1871Charles Pickering

Circular Quay and The Rocks from Government House Tower — photograph, from Sydney CBD, 1870

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Circular Quay and The Rocks from Government House Tower, 1870

Sydney, from Government House Tower (panoramic) / [attributed to Charles PickeringCharles Percy Pickering

Australian Mutual Provident Society building, 98 Pitt Street, Sydney — photograph, from Pitt Street, c. 1871–73

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Australian Mutual Provident Society building, 98 Pitt Street, Sydney, c. 1871–73

Construction of the Centennial Hall, Sydney Town HallAmerican & Australasian Photographic Company

Darling Harbour from Balmain — illustration, from Darling Harbour, 1879

illustration·1882·Sydney CBD

Darling Harbour from Balmain, 1879

Sketches in New South Wales and Victoria, 1855-1882 / by J.B. HendersonJ. B. Henderson

First Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour — photograph, from Pyrmont Bridge, c. 1870s

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

First Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour, c. 1870s

Pyrmont Bridge, Darling Harbour, Sydney

Sydney Town Hall under construction, clock tower complete — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, c. 1875

photograph·1875·Sydney CBD

Sydney Town Hall under construction, clock tower complete, c. 1875

Sydney Town Hall under construction

General Post Office, Sydney, with the projecting three-faced clock — photograph, from Sydney General Post Office, c. 1878

photograph·1878·Sydney CBD

General Post Office, Sydney, with the projecting three-faced clock, c. 1878

General Post Office, Sydney

Interior of the Parliamentary Library, Parliament House, Sydney — photograph, from Parliament of New South Wales, 1871

photograph·1871·Sydney CBD

Interior of the Parliamentary Library, Parliament House, Sydney, 1871

Parliamentary Library, SydneyNew South Wales. Government Printing Office

The Domain, Sydney, with the corner of Victoria Lodge — photograph, from The Domain, 1877

photograph·1877·Sydney CBD

The Domain, Sydney, with the corner of Victoria Lodge, 1877

The Domain, Sydney

General Post Office, Sydney, by Charles Bayliss — photograph, from Sydney General Post Office, c. 1878

photograph·1878·Sydney CBD

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

General Post Office, Sydney] / C. Bayliss Photo, SydneyCharles Bayliss

Sydney Grammar School, College Street — photograph, from College Street, 1870

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Sydney Grammar School, College Street, 1870

Sydney Grammar School, College Street, Sydney

Sydney rooftops from the Town Hall clocktower — photograph, from Sydney Town Hall, 1873

photograph·1873·Sydney CBD

Sydney rooftops from the Town Hall clocktower, 1873

Panorama of Sydney taken from Sydney Town HallFrancis W. Robinson

George Street shopfronts, Sydney — photograph, from George Street, 1871

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

George Street shopfronts, Sydney, 1871

Views of Old SydneyCharles Bayliss; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)

Harbour and gardens from Government House, Sydney — photograph, from Government House, c. 1879

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Harbour and gardens from Government House, Sydney, c. 1879

Views of Old SydneyCharles Bayliss; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)

Macquarie Street terrace row, Sydney — photograph, from Macquarie Street, 1871

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Macquarie Street terrace row, Sydney, 1871

Views of Old SydneyCharles Bayliss; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)

Coaching party at Government House, Sydney — photograph, from Government House, 1872–79

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Coaching party at Government House, Sydney, 1872–79

Views of Old SydneyCharles Bayliss; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)

Inscribed rock at Mrs Macquarie's Road, Sydney Domain — photograph, from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, 1870–75

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Inscribed rock at Mrs Macquarie's Road, Sydney Domain, 1870–75

Mrs Macquarie's Chair, SydneyAmerican & Australasian Photographic Company

Parliament House, Macquarie Street — photograph, from Parliament of New South Wales, 1870

photograph·1870·Sydney CBD

Parliament House, Macquarie Street, 1870

Views of Old SydneyCharles Bayliss; Freeman Brothers; John Rae (original drawings)