pickering

Charles Pickering was commissioned to photograph public works for the government architect James Barnet in 1870. The photographs themselves were intended for display at the London Exhibition of 1873; Pickering was previously engaged as the official photographer to the Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition of 1870. Photographers such as Charles Nettleton and the firm of Cox & Luckin were given similiar commissions in Melbourne as photography played an increasingly important role in the work of government departments. (The collection is on the State Libray of N.S.W. database. This database has a facility to view photographs in a high quality resolution which is really the best way to view the photographs - because of size constraints I will post a link to the high resolution version beneath each photograph).

I wonder if this image is as old as the c.1865 one? The stonework etc still looks relatively new and clean.

I didn't realize before that the Rookwood Station was literally a 'dead end'. Did the trains have to reverse all the way from Redfern?

Those angel sculptures symbolize Death and Resurrection, and the young sculptor, Thomas Duckett, died in 1868 as the building was nearing completion - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13166461

It seems the No.1 Mortuary Station was completed in 1869. See this wiki article - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cemetery_Station_No._1_railway_station which mentions a sign saying "commenced 14 April 1867, completed 10 August 1869".
And this article in the SMH 22/4/1868 with description of how the building will look -

" ... The receiving-house at Haslem Creek is placed in the centre of the 200 acres set apart for the cemetery, and also in tho centre of an inner ring comprising 20 acres. The chapels to be erected by the several denominations will be around it. This building is a specimen of the Italian Gothic style, beautiful in proportion and ornamentation. It is a paralelogram, 98 feet 6 inches by 42 feet. This figure is divided longitudinally into three parts, a nave with side aisles, by two rows of circular columns, with richly-carved capitals. From these columns spring pointed arches, carrying the wall upon which rests the main roof. The sides of the building are entirely open. The rails will run through the nave, the side aisles and a portion of the nave forming platforms. The plain walls are built of 6-inch courses of rock faced work, pointed with black mortar. The whole of the interior timber work of the open roof will be painted in neutral tint, .picked out in primitive colours. The roof will be covered with slate in ornamental design, the entire length being terminated with an iron ridge cresting of quaint design. In these buildings it is difficult to say which is the most remarkable, the taste of the architect, Mr. Barnett, or the faithful and persevering skill of the general contractors, Messrs. Stoddard and Medway for Redfern, and Mr. Aaron Loveridge for Haslem Creek. ... "

I reckon all these photos are 1869, not "c.1865"

Update 1871 by photographer Charles Pickering. See comments here -

Thomas Duckett the sculptor (see link above) - found on Flickr!

beachcomber australia [http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpeters]
Great links - thank you.
I think the c.1865 date given on one of those images may have been based around the date the Rookwood Cemetery rail line opened - 22nd October 1864. However a post August 1869 date would be more approriate. - AG

Wonderful panorama dated January 1871 (see note). I think the photo was originally made for an album sent to the Colonial Office in London, showing the achievements in NSW. That went into the National Archives UK who have also posted their version on Flickr, which happily includes all the ships' names! See - And the three individual photos which make up the panorama -

It should be relatively simple to find out which day in January 1871 this was using Trove. About 10 or 11am by the warehouse shadows on the right!

Hmm - That's not going to work. All the named ships were at Circular Quay wharfs on the 20th and 27th January 1871, ie for at least a week. See these excellent SMH alphabetical lists of "Vessels in Harbour" - 20 Jan 1871 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13216860 27 Jan 1871 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13218966 And all the ships except 'Chance' were there the previous week - 13 Jan 1871 - trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13221911

beachcomber australia Well aren't I glad I posted this pic. Thanks for identifying the connection, its so great we can name all the vessels so accurately! The SLNSW has the same photograph, attributed to Charles Percy Pickering. It's not cropped & looks like it has the ships names pencilled beneath.

Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons I had a feeling it was by Charles Pickering, or at least attributed to him. He was probably under the direction of James Barnet, the NSW Colonial Architect. The date "Jan 1871" on this version makes it extra special! I wonder where the original glass plate negatives are? Probably buried in State Records NSW Series 4481 with completely odd titles ...