bubonic

See comments and details on the original glass plate negative here - www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2801921192/ . And particularly this "1897" painting here - nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2284261 . How did Sir William Johnson know that this corner of Sydney would be famous for the plague three years before the event?

Ferry Lane is my touchstone. It keeps drawing me back. [http://www.flickr.com/photos/pellethepoet/sets/72157623536906443/] I remember talking with Alan Ventress at a history talk in 2006 about another image of Ferry Lane from State Records collection being incorrectly identified as Harrington Lane in Harvey Shore's book 'From the Quay' (p.133). Pass on my regards if he's still at State Records ...

@ Pellethepoet, I am interested to find out how and why you have an interest in Ferry Lane. I think it was named after the first or early ferry service location to the North Shore, Milsons Point and Lavender Bay. as shown on the 1858 map of Sydney - www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-rm1272-sd&rgn=0...

@beachcomberaustralia - You're right about the origin of its name.

And thanks for the map link - hadn't seen that one.

Oh, and the short story of my interest in Ferry Lane is that it was the first unknown photograph that I ever identified (March 2006):

and started me on this whole amateur picture research lark.

I have always doubted the "1897" date of the William Johnson painting nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2284261 . Closer inspection reveals the side of the 1900 Stevens Building www.flickr.com/photos/29029178@N03/2865095772/ in Windmill Street between the 'Hero of Waterloo' and the 'Hit & Miss' Hotels - the west wall and a couple of chimneys. Obviously they cannot have been there in 1897, and implies that the photo came BEFORE the artwork, as in several other instances.

Pottinger Street looking south and up towards Windmill Street. c.1901. Google Street view - maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&...

The street on the left is named Ferry Street on this 1858 Map of Sydney - www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.map-rm1272-sd&rgn=0...

See current view here (pellethepoet) - www.flickr.com/photos/pellethepoet/4330217516/ Also fascinating detail about other views of Ferry Lane / Street / Place including this 1897 painting by Sir William Johnson - nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2284261, and this same photograph with street names from the State Record NSW - investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/asp/photosearch/photo.asp... .

I have always doubted the "1897" date of the William Johnson painting nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an2284261 . Closer inspection reveals the side of the 1900 Stevens Building www.flickr.com/photos/29029178@N03/2865095772/ in Windmill Street between the 'Hero of Waterloo' and the 'Hit & Miss' Hotels - the west wall and a couple of chimneys. Obviously they cannot have been there in 1897, and implies that the photo came BEFORE the artwork, as in several other instances.

Whoopee - the National Library has changed the date of the Johnson painting to "Ca.1902". Which is a bit odd, as I think the artist signed it " '01 ". Anyway, the photo was first.