royalbotanicgardens

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/160391538 - the Sydney Mail, 20th November, 1929...this Sydney Mail pic looks to have been taken somewhat later... As you can see, the 'Seasons' statues that appear here are not the present day Botanical Gardens 'Seasons' statues... These 'Seasons' statues appear to have been imported from Italy by monumental mason Job Hanson for the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879-80...these 'Seasons' statues were on display in what was known as the Gardens Palace section of the Sydney Botanic Gardens in the later 19th and earlier 20th centuries...I haven't managed to discover what happened to these 'Seasons' statues...they all appear to have been in the Botanic Gardens in the 1920s...and 'Summer', at least, was still there in the late 1930s... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/161872146 - the Sydney Mail, 27th September, 1879...'The flights of steps leading from the principal entrance to the lawns are completed. Their sides are ornamented with pieces of marble sculpture representing Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, which Mr. J. Hanson has had imported from his works in Italy ; and several large vases, also of marble. The steps run down to a broad pathway, leading into the Botanical Gardens.' (towards bottom of 2nd highlighted column)... trove.nla.gov.au/work/184209852 - NLA Fairfax pic of 'Spring' trove.nla.gov.au/work/184209601 - NLA Fairfax pic of 'Autumn' trove.nla.gov.au/work/184209600 - NLA Fairfax pic of 'Winter' www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2414438941 - PHM Kerry & Co pic of 'Summer' All up, it appears that in the later 19th and earlier 20th centuries, the Botanic Gardens had two sets of 'Seasons' statues...the statues seen here...and the present day 'Seasons' statues, attributed to Charles F. Summers, which were acquired in 1883...and are described in this SMH item... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13518872 - SMH, 10th January, 1883...'News of the Day...During the last few days an additional attraction has been given to our Botanic Gardens, in the form of eight marble statues, which now gleam white against masses of dark green foliage in various angles of the many walks which are so much appreciated by our citizens and visitors. They were purchased in Italy, and though not examples of the highest art - being indeed inexpensive works such as students and apprentices in Italian studios are mainly engaged in fashioning, their material gives them an immense superiority to plaster cast, and, situated as they are, they have a very attractive appearance. Four of them represent the seasons: -Spring, a fair maiden with her lap full of flowers; Summer, with her right arm encircling a sheaf of wheat and cornflowers, while her left hand grasps a sickle ; Autumn, a joyous Bacchanal, with one hand holding a bunch of grapes, while the other tosses aloft a wine-beaker ; and Winter, a wrinkled eider clasping a frost-killed bird to his bosom, The others are "Rebecca at the Well," a fair maiden bearing on her left shoulder a beautifully designed pitcher, and standing with uplifted drapery among a mass of ferns ; " La Ballarina," a girl pausing amid the dance, and bearing on one arm a wreath of flowers, presumably the reward of her graceful efforts ; " The Bather," a girl in close-fitting tunic, just sliding down into the water ; and the "Boy extracting a thorn," a copy of the well-known statue of tho name. All these statues are placed on well-finished freestone pedestals, and Mr. Charles Moore, the Director of the Gardens, has located them with excellent taste. Mr. Moore has also received some terra-cotta statues, medallions, and alto relieves, the first-named of which are suitable enough for display in the Gardens, while the others are eminently fit for exhibition in some public building.'

Also see www.flickr.com/photos/powerhouse_museum/2515551200/ 'Summer' appears in this pic which looks to have been taken in 1938 or later... www.flickr.com/photos/193158484@N02/52471625622/

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Sydney's older buildings and structures. , and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Charles Bayliss - www.nla.gov.au/apps/cdview?pi=nla.pic-an10697078-35

The external statues on the Colonial Secretary's Building were the work of sculptor Achille Simonetti. The year/date when the various statues were placed in their niches can be tracked down via the digitised newspapers... Macquarie/Bridge St cnr: Mercy (upper) - ca. August 1879 - trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13439487 (see item top of 2nd highlighted column) Justice (middle) 9th November, 1878 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13417133 (see 1st item) Wisdom (lower) 15th December 1880 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8991508 (see top of 2nd highlighted column) Phillip/Bridge St cnr: Art (upper) 13th January, 1888 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13675831 (see item 2nd highlighted column) Science (middle) 26th October, 1883 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28371509 (see item 2nd highlighted column) Labour (lower) ?April 1882 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28379737 (see item 2nd highlighted column)

Only the flags have changed . . . and maybe the second story windows on the left?

"Government House is located in Sydney alongside the Royal Botanic Gardens, overlooking Sydney Harbour, just south of the Sydney Opera House. Constructed between 1837 and 1843, the property has been the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales since Sir George Gipps in 1845, except for two brief periods; the first between 1901 to 1914, when the property was leased to the Commonwealth of Australia as the residence of the Governor-General of Australia,[1] and the second from 1996 to 2011. " en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_House,_Sydney

Thanks to both of you for the photo and the great background information. We'll add some of the information to the record the next time we update.