1888 was Sydney’s big birthday party for a hundred years of British settlement — fireworks, processions, a Centennial Park carved from the old Common and Lachlan Swamp paddocks, and enough commemorative china and newspaper specials to bury a sideboard. This small gallery is that mood in pictures: the city dressing itself as a finished colonial capital. Say centenary of settlement, not “100 years of Australia” in the Federation sense — the Commonwealth is still thirteen years away.
What the celebrations papered over is part of the story too. Aboriginal Sydney was not invited to toast the anniversary; the official script was progress, wool and steam. Keep this set distinct from the 1938 one-hundred-and-fiftieth liftouts and from the bigger 1888 scrapbook on 100 Years of Sydney – Centenary.
Caption what you can identify; leave the rest as a centenary-era view rather than inventing photographers.
Sydney’s centenary celebrations in 1888 commemorated one hundred years since the arrival of the First Fleet and the establishment of the British colony at Sydney Cove. The anniversary was marked by civic ceremonies, public festivities and the opening of Centennial Park.
SYDNEY CENTENARY -
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD SESQUI-CENTENARY SUPPLEMENT, MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1938. — Page Five.
"Time rolls its ceaseless course"
The centenary of Dangar, Gedye & Malloch Limited which occurs this year is invested with additional interest because it coincides with the sesqui-centenary celebrations.
1838
Closely interwoven with many important events in the development of N.S.W., the history of Dangar, Gedye & Malloch Limited forms a most picturesque and colourful story.
One hundred years ago there were three storekeepers carrying on business in the northern districts of New South Wales.
Richard Cary Dangar was in business in Muswellbrook in 1838; Jeremiah Brice Rundle was storekeeper in Page's River and Murrurundi in 1839; and James Gilchrist established himself in Armidale as storekeeper in the "forties." Each of these early colonial business men contributed in his turn to the foundation and development of the House known as Dangar, Gedye & Malloch Limited.
Richard Cary Dangar seems to have been the most enterprising of the three, inasmuch as he made several voyages between Australia and England—no small undertaking in those days—and he was the moving spirit in the partnerships that ensued. He first came to Sydney by the vessel "Florentia," in 1836, and, besides establishing himself in business two years later in Muswellbrook, he acquired pastoral interests, and seemingly took an active interest in the Church, since he was trustee of the Muswellbrook Church Fund.
Believing that Sydney offered greater scope for business than the country, Mr. Dangar and his storekeeper friend from Murrurundi, Jeremiah Brice Rundle, joined in partnership, and commenced trading as Rundle, Dangar & Co., Sydney. It was on one of his visits into the country that Mr. Dangar wrote from Gostwyck on the 13th October, 1853, to his partner, Mr. Rundle, advising that Mr. Gilchrist, storekeeper at Armidale, was "doing a very large business, especially in spirits and in gold buying;" and Mr. Dangar suggested various lines of merchandise which Rundle, Dangar & Co. might sell to Mr. Gilchrist. Evidently Mr. Dangar registered a high opinion of Mr. James Gilchrist's business ability, as he later dissolved his partnership with Mr. Rundle, and became associated with Mr. Gilchrist, trading under the name of Dangar, Gilchrist & Co., Sydney. In 1855, Mr. Dangar admitted his nephew, Mr. Frederick Holkham Dangar, into the firm.
1870
Eight years later (1867) Mr. R. C. Dangar died, and some time afterwards Mr. Gilchrist retired. Mr. F. H. Dangar, in 1870, admitted into the firm his senior assistant in the business—Mr. Charles T. Gedye—whose name was substituted for that of Mr. Gilchrist. It is of interest to note that Mr. Gedye was manager of the Meat Preserving works established in Newcastle in the "forties" by Mr. Henry Dangar, the surveyor. The firm thus became known as Dangar, Gedye & Co., and thereafter there was no change in the name for 67 years, although its activities were extended far beyond its original limits. In addition to their business as Stock and Station Holders and Financiers, Wool Shippers and General Importers, the firm had large shipping interests. They owned the sailing ship "Neotsfield," and were agents for many of the famous sailing vessels, including some of the crack wool clippers — the "Torridon," the "Brilliant," the "Halloween," and the "Cutty Sark." Incidentally, it was from the latter vessel that many of the trade names of the goods sold by the Company were derived.
Mr. F. H. Dangar went to London in 1882. It was about this time that the Company began to take an interest in Shearing Machinery. Years later, after the death of Mr. Gedye, he handed over the business to his partner, Mr. Andrew Johnstone Sievers, who carried it on until his death in 1916. In that year the business was acquired conjointly by Mr. Robert A. Malloch (then a partner of Malloch Bros., Perth, W.A.) and Mr. William H. Carver, who had been with the firm for 45 years. Mr. Carver died in 1919, and his share of the business was acquired by Mr. Malloch.
1916
1938 And so now, after one hundred years, we proudly announce our Centenary!
Dangar, Gedye & Malloch Ltd.
Malloch House, Young Street, Sydney
—1838 – 1938—
GOVERNORS of the Young AUSTRALIA
By GEORGE MACKANESS,
Author of "Admiral Arthur Phillip," etc.
WHEN Miss Fanny Chapman wrote in her Bath diary that Admiral Phillip combined in him the three essential elements that go to the making of a great man, "the gentleman, the scholar, and the seaman," she epitomized in a phrase the predominant qualities of our first Australian Governor. The stamp of merit, intellectual and moral, was undoubtedly impressed on him, a merit, as Viscount Wakefield put it, "that was revealed in the three qualities essential to creative work — vision, faith, and courage."
These qualities were so equally combined in Phillip that, to-day, we can confidently place his name high in the ranks of Empire-builders, a man, who, upon what in his day appeared to be but rotten and insecure foundations, built far better than he knew.
[The body text in the columns below is too small to read in these photos.]
[Section headings:] Reign of the Rum Officers. / The Arrest of William Bligh. / Macquarie the Nation Builder. / King's Fight [illegible]
[Caption under portrait:] Captain John Hunter.
[Caption, top, partly readable:] "If Phillip was the founder of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie may rightly be called the [illegible]."—A study of Macquarie.
[Caption, right:] (Above.) A portrait of Governor Bligh, and (left) a drawing made to illustrate the allegation that Bligh was hiding under a bed when he was arrested.
[End of the article, right-hand column:]
[ob]tained Bathurst's permission to retire, but did not leave Sydney until December, 1821.
His successor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, was faced with the task of putting into operation the reforms suggested by Bigge, but as an administrator he was not a success, for, being peace loving and a little deficient in energy, he was unable to prevent his best intentions from being thwarted by officials. Nevertheless, he effected many important changes.
After Brisbane came Sir Ralph Darling, a distinguished soldier and a man of high administrative ability, whose main services to the colony lay on the reorganisation of the administrative departments, the encouragement of explorers, and the opening up of the Moreton Bay district.
The administration of the next Governor, Sir Richard Bourke, was marked by much colonial progress, for his tact and sympathy ensured the adoption of many necessary social and political reforms, some suggested by the home authorities, others initiated by himself. Most important of them all was the inauguration of the "squatting" system, a device which gave room for the development of the wool industry, without disposing irrevocably of valuable Crown lands.
With the coming of Sir George Gipps, Bourke's successor, in February, 1838, we reach the end of half a century of the history of New South Wales.
[Script headline, partly visible:] …g of the Ha…
EXPENDITURE.
Cost of collecting road toll …… £8,155
Maintenance and minor improvements …… 32,644
Maintenance of properties …… 706
Administrative expenses …… 1,205
LOAN CHARGES.
Interest …… £295,644
Exchange …… 38,788
Sinking fund …… 35,764
Management expenses of loans …… 2,904 — 373,100
Total …… —£415,810
The surplus of income over expenditure for the 12 months ended June 30, 1937, is £62,048. The year began with a deficit of £27,090, which reduces the surplus to £34,958. The figures shown are subject to completion of accounts and audit.
[The neighbouring column on the right is cut off at the edge of the photo.]
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