parliament

Taken last July 2009.

A bit changes.

Overall view in january 2009: From the outside, the most important changes are the sidebuildings near the front of the Ridderzaal, which were removed in the restauration of 1904.

Streetview

Parliament House is Queensland's premier heritage building and one of Brisbane's best-known landmarks. Located on the corner of George and Alice Streets, it overlooks the expansive and majestic Botanic Gardens. It is further bound by the Brisbane River and the Queensland University of Technology. The buildings contained within the parliamentary precinct date from different stages in the history of Queensland, ranging from 1868 through to 1979. Major refurbishments of the George and Alice Street buildings occurred in 1982 and of the Annexe in 2000. The building was started in 1864, first occupied in 1868, and finally completed 25 years later in 1889. It is characterized by solid colonnades which keep the building cool in summer, some truly magnificent timber work that was produced from local Queensland timbers, and an impressive and gracious interior. The foundation stone was laid on 14 July 1865 by Governor George Ferguson Bowen. A ceremony was held for the occasion. The foundation stone weighed four tonnes, below it copies of Pugh's Almanac, the Moreton Bay Courier, and Guardian newspapers were placed along with the current coinage and an explanatory letter. Although some doubt exists, it is believed the foundation stone lies beneath the main entrance off George Street. Work began confidently. The site was cleared and leveled, and materials were stockpiled, including 500,000 sandstone bricks. Initially, there were problems in obtaining enough good quality sandstone. The original tenderers were not able to fulfill their contract. As a result, Tiffin decided to rent a quarry at Woogaroo. This method was more expensive than the original contract, but at least ensured a good supply of stone. As a result, the cost estimate for Parliament House rose alarmingly from the original £20,000 to more than £49,000 by June 1865. Awkward questions were asked in the newspapers. As a result, Tiffin was asked to account for the escalation. Despite his explanation, Tiffin was dogged by a reputation of costly buildings throughout his Queensland career. By the end of 1865, the walls were constructed up to the first-floor level. Work continued steadily into early 1866. However, in June 1866, Queensland suffered severe depression as a result of a financial crisis in Europe. In September 1867, the Department of Works instructed Tiffin to prepare a new specification of works required to complete the building within a more limited budget. The new specification included the completion of the George Street wing only, which had so far cost £44,000, without the colonnade or porte-cochere. It was also decided to finish the project by contract and, in December 1867, John Petrie was awarded the contract for £17,500. Accounts for Parliament House clearly show the wide variety of services performed by John Petrie's firm. Over the following years, Petrie is recorded as supplying furniture, matting, verandah curtains, blinds, fire hose reels, gas brackets, and other sundry items. The firm also cleaned the carpets, painted walls, repaired furniture and locks, and made many additions and alterations as was required. John Petrie was a public-spirited man and, in 1859, was elected the first Mayor of Brisbane. He also served on many public boards including the Board of Water Works and the Brisbane Hospital Board until his death in 1892. By November 1868, the building was all but complete. However, it fell far short of Tiffin's original plan. The colonnade designed for sun control at the front of the building, initially deleted for reasons of economy, was eventually built in 1880 of sandstone from Murphy's Creek. The porte-cochere remained unbuilt for almost 100 years when it was added during refurbishments in the early 1980s. The final cost of the George Street wing varied depending on the source but ranged between £60,000 and £80,000. This was between three and four times the Government's original, and obviously unrealistic, commission. Source: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Visit-and-learn/History/History...

a perspective twist makes it appear that the statue to the fore is holding a scroll of paper (the shop awning )

Per the old reliable wiki article on Dublin Tramways, the horse trams began service in 1872, and were electrified by 1901.

In Thoms 1882 - Shanks Brothers are at 2 Foster Place and F H Killingly are at 3 Trinity Street. I see Shanks Killingly & Co at 2 Foster place in the photo, so I think it safe to presume we are after 1882.

No Bicycles, which must put this back in the nineteenth rather than twentieth century.

Grattan with the shop awning is from 1875 per the DIA.