botanic

As in other cities around Australia, the residents of Brisbane welcomed the new year, the new century, and the new nation on Commonwealth Day, 1 January 1901. The festivities planned for Brisbane were both formal and fun. Churches held services where official prayers were said for the new Commonwealth and for Queen Victoria. Governor Lamington had responsibility for reading the proclamation of the Commonwealth of Australia and the message from Queen Victoria to the Australian people. The people of Brisbane were joined by those from surrounding districts and further afield, who had made the trip by train to see the processions and parades. Women and men were dressed in their finest clothes, and important businesses and public buildings of Brisbane were equally well decorated for the occasion. Source: getting-it-together.moadoph.gov.au/queensland/celebration...

Same photo as the one in the State Library of NSW collection, in the album compiled by John Lane Mullins in 1881, to show friends when he toured England and Europe in 1882. See this comment for link and timeline of views of the fountain.

pellethepoet Aha! So the photo must be earlier that "1882". The Mullins Album (item one) says it was taken in "1881" in his own handwriting. acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=836375

beachcomber australia Also note date note for the album: "Though 1881 is the inscription date, the earliest photo, 31c, has been dated at 1868 from the circus advertisement in the image." Taken in 1881 may be a slip on Mullins part. He may have meant to say compiled in 1881. Many are likely to be 1870s.

I think this is Victoria Lodge, before additions. "The lodge was built in 1859 as a diminutive but finely scaled two-storey tower marking a gateway into the Botanic Gardens. After being altered [1870s as here] and extended [1895 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/132519586] to serve as staff accommodation, it fell into disuse despite its historical significance." ref - claredesign.com.au/clare-design-in-government/

But I don't understand why Charles Bayliss would climb on to the roof to take this photo -

State Library of New South Wales The 'more detailed information' link to the SLNSW in the description is wrong. It should be acmssearch.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/itemDetailPaged.cgi?itemID=431113 (not itemID=401861). It is also wrong on the two preceding Tronier images - www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryofnsw/13709321964/ www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryofnsw/13708932695/

Exellent!!!

pellethepoet Thanks! You are so right. I have just fixed them. Cutting and pasting links got the better of me... EG