mort

From The Powerhouse Museum's "Photo Of The Day" blog: "If you look at the larger version of this image on Flickr you can see several signs have been placed on the building that reads ‘Many happy returns of the day’. You can clearly see a large group of people gathering out the front of the building and some of the ferries are full of passengers. What was so special about this day?"

Looks like it might be something about Mort & Co.? www.mortco.com.au/history.html "The name Mort & Co has been associated with Australia’s agricultural industries for decades. This link was first established in 1843 when Thomas Sutcliff Mort established Mort & Co as an auctioneering and brokering business specifically focusing on selling wool. This business developed and became a leading pastoral house before merging with R Goldsbrough & Co in 1888 to form Goldsbrough Mort & Co. Goldsbrough Mort & Co continued to grow, and in 1962 merged with Elder Smith & Co to form Elder Smith Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd. Consolidation continued, and in 1981 Elder Smith Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd merged with Henry Jones IXL to form Elders IXL which today trades as Elders. Charlie Mort, the proprietor of Mort & Co is a great-great-great nephew of Thomas and is proud of the mark that his ancestors have had on the Australian agricultural industry."

Info about the founder, Thomas Mort: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Sutcliffe_Mort ... which says he apparently died in 1878, so it wasn't his birthday, if indeed this pic is from 1900 :)

I was wondering if it might have something to do with the ferries... and they just hung the note on the Mort & Co. building because it was right there ;) Not sure if a merger would be classified as a birthday, as such...

@ Powerhouse Museum Collection - the Justice and Police Museum is one corner south. Tweddle's Belmore Hotel "First & Last" as seen from the other direction: www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2362703683/

this would be roughly where the current wharf was built? Good to see the natural shore line meeting the water before it was all built over.

Mr Mori Flapan identifies the detail as being the boatyard of Mr. Daniel Sheehy at Woolloomooloo Bay - and the ship being launched is the wooden screw steamer LLEWELYN - the date 24 December 1874. From Flotilla-Australia: "290 gross tons, 197 net. Lbd: 151'2" x 24' x 12'. Wooden steamship, single screw as built by D Sheedy at Wooloomooloo Sydney for William Hughes, Sydney. Sold July 1875 to J S McFarlane, Sydney. Sold September 1875 to Auckland S N Co., Auckland New Zealand. At this juncture, she was fitted with passenger accomodation, 42 saloon and 35 in steerage. Re-measured she was 155 feet in length and tonnage increased to 478 gross & 358 net. Not too popular in New Zealand coastal service and sold April 1877 to J M Banks, F Bickle & J Paul, registered at Sydney. From June 1877 she 'replaced' the Kembla' on the Newcastle trade under obvious charter arrangement with the Newcastle S N Co., Sydney. Since, and under the agency of W Laidley & Co, she operated the Sydney - North Queensland routes in passenger-cargo capacity. Sold February 1881 to E Vickery where she serviced the south coast of New South Wales as a passenger carrying collier. August 1881 sold to G A Lloyd. Wrecked upon Bellambi Reef, New South Wales 23rd May 1882."

Thanks everyone, that is great. I will get the info added to our catalogue records.

Lins Oz Good work there - I got completely bogged down in Trove irrelevances with this one! John Degotardi (photographer) was in a similar position ten years earlier in 1864, via Museums of History NSW - State Archives Collection. Fascinating to compare the two photos, but I am puzzled by The Bells Hotel (see note) - when did that happen, or did it have a previous different name? Ping @ pellethepoet Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons

It was Christmas Eve. Read All About It, as if it happened yesterday ... THE LLEWELYN STEAMSHIP.- The largest wooden screw steamer built in Sydney was successfully launched from Mr. Sheehy's building establishment in Woolloomooloo Bay, yesterday, at 9 a.m., and some hundreds of persons assembled on the occasion to witness the event. Mr. J. Sheehy has ever held a reputation for turning out first-class vessels, whether for beauty of lines or excellent workmanship; and his last piece of handiwork is no exception to the rule. She has a straight stern, beautifully fine entrance and run, and withal, great carrying capacity, and is in every respect alike a credit to her builder and the colony. The ship was gaily decorated with bunting; and, as the dog-shores were knocked away, was named "Llewelyn" by Miss Alice Mort, daughter of Mr. T. S. Mort, with the accustomed ceremonies. The launch was in every respect most satisfactory, not a hitch accruing. There were a large number of our leading merchants present, as also a full attendance of ladies, all being highly gratified at the result. As she now floats she is really a very handsome craft. The Llewelyn has been built to the order of Mr. W. Hughes, and is of the following dimensions:- length, 160 feet; beam, 24 feet; depth of hold, 13 feet. Her frame is entirely of well-seasoned hardwood, as also her planking from the garboard to the load-line, above this kauri has been used, and again hardwood in the upper portion of the topsides to take the deck beams. She is copper-fastened through-out, and diagonally shaped inside. She will be fitted with a pair of compound surface condensing engines, manufactured by Messrs. Mort and Co., Waterview Bay, of the very best material, the finish and workmanship being in keeping with the well-known reputation of the firm. The diameter of the cylinders are 45 and 24 inches respectively; length of stroke, 2 feet 6 inches. The surface condenser contains 839[?] brass tubes, their total length being nearly equal to one mile. The steam will be generated in two boilers of 8 feet diameter with four furnaces, and are constructed to carry a pressure of 25[?] lbs. to the square inch, driving a three-bladed screw. The engines will be placed as far aft as possible in order to give as much cargo space as possible, and the vessel's carrying capacity will be about 500 tons. At the termination of the launch several of the company drank Mr. Sheehy's health in bumpers of champagne, and success to the Llewelyn. From - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13339268?searchTerm=ll... SMH 25/12/1874 (they published on Christmas Day!)

That is sweet! Nice to know people had senses of humor back then--even if it's a little twisted. ;)

how was this done?

It was probably a re-photographed photo-collage with color (ink or paint) added by hand.

amazing!!!!!

Im impressed! Nice idea,it looks good...