Picturesque NSW

Between 1879 and 1892 photographers documented Sydney’s harbour and streets, the Blue Mountains and coastal Illawarra, northern rivers and the artesian bores of the Moree district. The resulting plates form a broad visual survey of late-colonial New South Wales. This post presents that sequence of photographs spanning harbour landmarks, civic buildings, bush scenery and inland works.

Nineteenth-century ‘picturesque’ views celebrated Sydney Harbour, Blue Mountains waterfalls and the city’s emerging landmarks for albums and illustrated papers. Drawn here from State Library of NSW imagery, the set moves from Rose Bay and Manly to Government House, St Andrew’s Cathedral and yachting off Fort Denison. This post gathers those picturesque historic views of New South Wales.

Hornby (South Head ) Lighthouse, Sydney Harbour — c.1879–1892.

Rose Bay, Sydney Harbour picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Mosman Bay — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Double Bay — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Brickfield Hill, Sydney — picturesque historic streetscape (State Library of NSW).

naval Depot Garden Island — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Government House, Sydney — picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Farm Cove — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Manly Beach picturesque historic coastal view (State Library of NSW).

Circular Quay From Customs House — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Mosman’s Bay, Sydney Harbour — picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Circular Quay — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Colonial Sugar Refining works, Pyrmont — c.1879–1892.

Sydney Harbour from the Australia Hotel — picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Government House — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Mosman’s Bay, Sydney Harbour — second picturesque view in this set (State Library of NSW).

Statue of Queen Victoria — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point from the harbour picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Statue of Prince Albert, Royal Consort — Sydney, c.1879–1892.

Sydney Harbour from the Australian Club picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).

Captain Cook Statue — New South Wales, c.1879–1892.

Yachting off Fort Denison, Sydney Harbour — picturesque historic view (State Library of NSW).