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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] That house/building is not marked on most 19th century maps, except this wonderful 1822 map - it could be "30 - the Water-bailiff's Residence". I am thinking it might have survived redevelopment for a long time because it was a government building. Interactive 1822 map - www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview/?pi=nla.map-f107-sd&rgn=0....

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] beachcomber australia Lovely! Thanks folks. The little house is a sweet recurring feature.

These two photos seem to be at either end - like a pano - Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons Are they arranged close by in the album?

beachcomber australia They aren't arranged next to each other, but a few pages apart. The little number in square brackets in the caption gives you some idea of the ordering in the album. I think there is a Government House panorama coming up, and these images come from either end of the album.

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

The telephone cable holder was one of those dreadful mistakes in 'street furniture' - " ... In 1885 a cable support disguised as an ornamental verandah front was erected along the western side of George Street from the G.P.O. to what is now Railway Square. (ref 3'4'5) This is a distinctive feature which can be seen on many photographs. It became the backbone of the network with pole routes branching off at every cross street. The pole route in this section of George Street was replaced by a smaller one carrying only telegraph wires. The cable support was superseded before 1900 but was not all demolished. Shopkeepers had been allowed to use it to support awnings, and where they had done so it was left in place. ... " From - www.telephonecollecting.org/lightpoles.htm

beachcomber australia Hey BC thanks for the article - very useful!