commissariat

What a wonderful picture, though I am more interested in the buildings in the background than the Pomp and Circumstance in the foreground. I wonder if it was taken from the roof of the Customs House or the Thomas Mort building? I have been trying to find out about the "bald-faced building" recently on two State Records NSW photos - www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/3683566752/ and www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/2715092837/ . I thought it was a Fire Station because of the doors, or was it part of the old Sydney Harbour Trust Building? Extraordinary looking. Maybe it was a victim of the 1890's recession, hence the incomplete facade for at least three years.

super vintage

Bellisima!

BIG fave!

Thank you for pointing out that the Commissariat Store was still there. There was also another tall building at the Quay - from left to right, the Thomas Mort store, then Customs House, then the tallest building on today's Gateway site.

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] Brilliant ! Good to know it is still there. And has grown a chimney.

THE BUILDING The Pier Store was originally known as The Beach Store and was built in 1825 as a Commissariat (a Government or Military store). Located at the end of Kingston Pier, it was the most efficient and suitable place to unload goods to. After a tsunami hit the building in 1834 it was converted to a mill where corn was ground by use of hand-mills. In 1841 the upper storey became a guard-room and the lower continued to be used as a store. After the arrival of the Pitcairners in 1856 the lower floor became a customs shed and the upper storey was also used as a coffin room. A complete renovation of the building began in 1977 and it was then used as a store for lighterage gear, old crankmill machinery and pallets of beer. In 1988 the building became available for use by the Norfolk Island Museum.

From - norfolkislandmuseum.com.au/exhibitions/pier-store/

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] Ha ha!

For more information about the SS Orient: www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2362703683/ and www.laird-bogstown.com/orient 1.php

Yes, beachcomberaustralia, it looks French to me, possibly 'Pacifique', which means 'peaceful'.

Thanks for that Wardie44B, or 'Merci'. The French steamship "Pacifique" (built 1899) was owned by the M M (Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes - see note on flag) a French state-owned operation. She was 1,938 tons and (probably) operated the Marseilles - Port Said - Mahe - Reunion - Mauritius - Adelaide - Melbourne - Sydney - Noumea route. She was scrapped in 1925. Ref.- www.theshipslist.com/ships/lines/mm.htm . The earliest reference to the SS Pacifique in the Sydney Morning Herald is an advertisement for sailing to Noumea at 1pm on Wednesday 15 November 1899 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14233925?searchTerm=SS pacifique . This might not be the sailing that was about to happen in this photo, but it is certainly c.1900. The scaffolding in front of the Customs House (they were adding extra floors) also is evident in this photo - www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/3794327782/ .

Spot the differences! - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx?itemID=413341

Yes, a number of differences, beachcomber. What does is signify that the Pacifique isn't flying any flags (well, not the one on top and not the French flag) in the other image?