sydneyshots

This pic was taken prior to the construction of the northern wing, which was built in the period ca. March 1908 - July 1909... Other date markers are the bronze bas-reliefs, which were added to the facade of the southern wing... The first of the bronze bas-reliefs added was 'Phryne before Praxiteles', by Percival Ball...which was unveiled on 27th March, 1903...it appears in this postcard... www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/3257/ The second bas-relief added was 'Assur Natsir Pal, King of Assyria', by Gilbert Bayes...it was unveiled on 18th February, 1907... www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/3259/ ...if it were present here it would be hidden behind the tree... The third bas-relief added was 'Queen Hatasu of Egypt', by Countess Feodora Gleichen...it was placed in position in ca. March, 1908... www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/3258/ Both 'Assur Natsir Pal, King of Assyria' and 'Queen Hatasu of Egypt' occupy niches to the left of 'Phryne before Praxiteles'... The fourth bas-relief added was 'Augustus at Nimes' by William Reid Dick...it was unveiled 20+ years later, on 10th December, 1931...it occupies the niche to the right of 'Phryne before Praxiteles'... As you can see, in this postcard the niche which was to be occupied by 'Queen Hatasu of Egypt' has been touched up....possibly for aesthetic purposes...so it's impossible to tell whether the niche was in fact vacant at the time the actual photo was taken...for dating purposes this is of little consequence because 'Queen Hatasu of Egypt' was placed in ca. March 1908, at about the time construction of the northern wing commenced... So all up, the pic from which this postcard was taken dates from the period 27th March, 1903 (unveiling of 'Phryne before Praxiteles') thru to ca. March 1908 (commencement of construction of the northern wing)... Also see comments/links here www.flickr.com/photos/statelibraryofnsw/3572499330/

No pier; compare with -

Compare with -

And another earlier one, c. 1887 (Hungerford album) -