A moment in time…..
It’s time to start testing your knowledge of NSW history for another year. We are hoping this one won’t be too hard to begin with…..hopefully there are enough clues ‘hidden’ in the Lands Department Building to help date this image.
Lands Department building, Sydney
We have many other undated photographs in Photo Investigator and on our Flickr account. If you know the dates or any other interesting facts about these images please let us know.
Category: -- Can you date...?
Tag: Moments in Time, Sydney
pellethepoet says:
Remarkably, the Lands Department building clock tower remained clockless until 1939 – http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17600251
Rhonda Cetta-Hoye says:
On the left hand side is what I think is a ” Stinky Pole ”
an exhust pipe for a sewer. The pole with the witches cap in top.
” By 1877 the city was partially drained by brick sewers.”
So a starting point is that the photo is pre 1877.
S: Subterran Sydney by Brian and Barbara Kennedy .
beachcomberaustralia says:
Definitely post 1893 when the tower and southern half of the building were finished. I am trying to find out when they added the two upper floors to the Royal Exhange Building – see the scaffolding and crane on the right. No luck so far . . .
Melissa says:
@beachcomberaustralia
Are you referring to the Royal Exchange Building on Pitt Street? I found this interesting picture of that building http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemPopLarger.aspx?itemid=53334
In relation to the clock, there’s also an interesting article about it in the SMH of 9 February 1954 (p. 11) which describes the dials of the clock and its overall cost.
beachcomberaustralia says:
@ melissa – No, not that building. Sorry! On the block of Pitt, Bridge, and Gresham Streets.
Before – http://www.flickr.com/photos/state-records-nsw/3793506151/
After – http://www.flickr.com/photos/patopostcards/2176870727/
Royal Exchange interesting history (but no date for extension) – http://www.royalexchange.com.au/history.html
Janette Pelosi says:
I noticed the telephone poles on the right corner of the photograph. Using the previous tips on dating photographs (http://archivesoutside.records.nsw.gov.au/tips-for-dating-photos-the-list/) the tapered pole was used c.1880-1900. Thus it could be between 1893 (thanks beachcomberaustralia) and 1900.
beachcomberaustralia says:
I am not 100% sure about this, but here goes: The Royal Exchange was known as the Merchants’ Exchange before a Royal title from King Edward VII in 1901. That is why it does not show in old Trove searches.
On 19/10/1899 they met to discuss alterations and additions to the building (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14228147)
The additions must have been complete by 31/12/1900 –
” On 31 December, 1900, the evening of the inauguration of the Commonwealth of Australia, the statue of “Commerce”, designed by sculptor James White who also created the Statue of Liberty, on top of the building was unveiled. It stood there until 1964 when the building was demolished. It has now been given pride of place outside the refurbished building looking over Pitt Street. ”
(http://www.56pittstreetsydney.com/jd/jadehttp.dll?EbdMulti_www_01=&H01=5018&H04=50000&_jadeReferenceClass=EbdHtmlClassMaster001&_jadeReferenceDocument=EbdHtmlClassMaster001)
I think these additions are what we see here, dating this photo as early 1900. Maybe?
Bob Meade says:
beachcomberaustralia – That’s useful information.
I’m not sure how someone could suggest that James White “also created the Statue of Liberty” though.
Frédéric Bartholdi gets credit for Lady Liberty.
beachcomberaustralia says:
Ooops! Somebody misread or elaborated! SMH 14/7/1900 has it right – http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/14321837
beachcomberaustralia says:
Apologies the 1893 completion date (above) should be 1891, according to Heritage NSW – http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=5045701.
I have always wanted to explore the interior of the Lands Department Building after reading this description of the dome, which was intended as an observatory. http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/seri/PASAu/0005//0000607.000.html
Rhonda says:
Well it seems the Royal Exchange building and not the Lands Department building provided more clues to date of the image. Given all the comments we can date the image c.1900.
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