francisgreenway

Relevant map showing intersection of George Street [left], Cumberland Street [centre], and Lower Fort Street [right] - acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/_zoomify/2008/D00663/a1367463.html

Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection Thanks for posting this. It is a wonderful forgotten corner of 'Old Sydney', obliterated for the Sydney Harbour Bridge southern approach. GoogleMapsStreetView - maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Sydney+NSW&hl=en&ll=-33...

pellethepoet The building called "Catholic Presbytery" on your map is of great interest. It is 'Cumberland Place' (not to be confused with the alleyway of the same name!) and best known as the home of Dr James Mitchell. Built by Francis Greenway in 1825; demolished c.1912. More info, photos and famous paintings of the property - collection.hht.net.au/firsthhtpictures/fullRecordPicture.... acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=430971# acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=412822#

beachcomber australia Brilliant! David Scott Mitchell's (of Mitchell Library fame) childhood home. He lived there until 1871 when his mother died. More "Cumberland Place" images - www.photosau.com.au/cos/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=... www.printsandprintmaking.gov.au/catalogues/work/51307/lio... And here's your virtual prize for being the first to tag The Stror 'At Coot! - aso.gov.au/titles/features/sentimental-bloke/clip2/

pellethepoet Luvvs it, I does! Thankee kindlee!

As one of Australia's leading museums, don't you feel some sort of responsibility in ensuring the map location is actually correct and that you should be sharing, at the least, your local knowledge? Why not say this is a view looking west of St James' Church designed by Francis Greenway for starters? Surely you should be doing a lot better than this or think again about what your priorities are. Don't you have an obligation through NSW taxpayer money to share your expertise (not deny it or hide it)?

Thanks for your response and the repositioning of the building on the map (it really is only worthwhile from a research point of view if these views are marked accurately on a map and not 'slightly out'). I understand that you are including whatever information is on the object (though I note not the dimensions of the glass plate negative itself). I also appreciate the objectives of the Commons project but question the low base you have chosen to start from. Why not tell us what you know about such photographic objects as an institution with immense expertise? This will encourage a deeper engagement with the material as a research tool in addition to any immediate aesthetic interest it may have. There is such potential for these images to tell us not only about Sydney but also their place in a national and international context when compared to similar images from the same time in different locations. It would also be really great to see these images available through Picture Australia - have you thought about sharing them that way as well? I appreciate that it's a balance and difficult with limited resources but can I ask you to keep striving to share your knowledge and expertise about objects as well as the objects themselves? Let us learn cleverly together and not just waste time reinventing wheels.

No sign of cable tram lines in this photo; therefore pre-1894. Similar subject by Kerry here: www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/3022880907/ . @ velvetchainsaw - .

Charles Bayliss - www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.pic-an10697078-27

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/51979177@N02] Interesting stuff. From the flags, crowds, families, Sunday best clothing, and short shadows, I would guess this in another Centennial Anniversary Day photo from 26 January 1888. Interesting to compare with another Henry King photo taken in the winter (long shadows). Probably earlier because of that pepperpot tower. No sign of Hagon. -

The first named ship should be "AUSTRALASIAN". This correct name is visible on the bow of the ship through the zoom feature available at the Persistent URL. We also know that this event occurred at Circular Quay on 3 March, 1885. For reference, see this plate from the Illustrated London News: www.old-print.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=MAR1042211# and this site: www.firstbattalion.au.com/Our Heritage.htm

Of course it is understood that the original caption is retained for historical value. So, you would not be inclined to add a note to your catalogue information at the persistent URL correctly identifying the ships then? Would not such a notation assist researchers seeking a photograph of the actual AUSTRALASIAN? [ Note added 2 May 2013: For some reason the comments by the Powerhouse Museum to which I am responding here has been deleted. The comment by the Powerhouse Museum immediately preceding this one was something to the effect that the caption of this photo "Departure of troopships 'Australian' and 'Iberia' for the Soudan" has been retained because it was on the original plate negative. I'm just adding this note for clarity, because it helps to make sense of how I begin this comments.]

See newly posted related image here: www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2633058828/

The Australasian, and the ship behind it, the Iberia are at the Orient Line Wharf. This photograph is in the collection of the Australian War Memorial at P00640.001, and it states at the AWM "original in Mitchell Library". However you can't get any more original than the glass plate negative in the collection of the Powerhouse Museum.

Wow I am really happy to find this picture. Sometimes I feel the New South Wales contingent in the Sudan is an overlooked part of our history.