1887

Dresser trained as a botanist, however he was producing designs for fabric, silver and wallpaper, amongst other things, by 1857. He was also one of the first people to import Japanese goods into Britain.

Exhibited at "Into Africa" curated by Harry Lyons in 2007 at the Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough. I have a set named after the title of the exhibition which has images from the exhibition itself.

I love this

This snake looks too dangerous)

Mobile Technology High Devices OrganizationIdentity

Here is the second Customs House extension (post 1896) c1900 from State Records NSW:

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] Ha ha thanks! Yes, this photo shows the 1887 extension work to the Customs House (James Barnet, architect, modifying the original two-storey building by Mortimer Lewis). See - Andy Brill They extended again twelve or so years later!

The earlier two-storey Customs House - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au//item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=220378

About the EMU (1865 - this ISN'T the 1841 ship) -

"The Manly paddler 'Brightside' (269 tons - 950 passengers) was built in Glasgow and exported to Brisbane to be reassembled for use on the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay as PS EMU. She was originally owned by the Queensland Steam Navigation Company. After another owner, she came to the Port Jackson Steam Boat Company in January 1877 and stayed with the various forms of the Manly ferry company until 1909. She was renamed BRIGHTSIDE in 1887 and sank in June 1897. She was converted into a cargo ferry in 1902 and worked the Manly run in that role until 1908. After being gutted by fire in 1908 the hull was converted to a lighter, but was broken up in 1909."

From "A Pictorial History of Ferries, Sydney and surrounding waterways" Graeme Andrews, Reed 1982

In 1887 the EMU also had a collision with the WARATAH which sank just to the left of this photo. Maybe just after this photo was taken?! - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13627954

From Wikipedia: At the end of her cable-laying career [1878] she was refitted once again as a liner but once again efforts to make her a commercial success failed. She was used as a showboat, a floating palace/concert hall and gymnasium. She acted as an advertising hoarding—sailing up and down the Mersey for Lewis's Department Store, who at this point were her owners, before being sold. The idea was to attract people to the store by using her as a floating visitor attraction. By the time she was sold piecemeal at auction in 1888 she had become an embarrassment.

Thank you for the photo. So sad to see her in that state.

From PortCities : Eventually, in 1885, the unwanted hulk was hired by Lewis's department store in Liverpool. The store wanted to use her as a music hall, fun fair and a giant advertising billboard. The tired old screw engines were coaxed into powering the ship to the River Mersey, where it was opened to the public at a shilling (5 pence) a head. After exhibition trips to Dublin and the River Clyde, which did not make much money at all, the Great Eastern returned to the River Mersey in 1888.

great photo and unusual end use!

From History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications : By the time the Great Eastern reached Liverpool the port side facing Birkenhead carried the slogan ‘LADIES SHOULD VISIT LEWIS’S BON MARCHE CHURCH STREET’, while on the starboard side facing Liverpool: Towards the stern: LEWIS’S ARE THE FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE Lewis’s name was painted in 30 feet high letters. Towards the bows: RANELAGH STREET LEWIS’S BON MARCHE LIVERPOOL BASNETT STREET MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, BIRMINGHAM On the paddle box: THE BON MARCHE LIVERPOOL