Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition, Sydney, Prince Alfred Park, NSW
1870. Group of four albumen paper photographs, two captioned and dated in pencil verso, sizes range from 12.8 x 27.5cm to 21.8 x 26cm. Foxing, fading to some; most with small missing portions and crinkles; some with old, repaired tears and tape verso. Captions include “From Northern Gallery” and “Western Gallery” of the Intercolonial Exhibition Building. Two photographs show interior views of the northern and southern end of the building from the balconies. One photograph shows an exterior view of supplementary buildings looking towards the now Greek Orthodox Church on Cleveland Street. Another photograph details a salon-style hanging of paintings on the balcony level. This group is from a series produced by the American and Australasian Photographic Company, some of which is held in the State Library of NSW. “The first Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition was a series of exhibitions inspired by the historic Great Exhibition held in London in 1851. The Colony of NSW mounted its first such exhibition in 1854 in preparation for the Paris Exhibition of 1855, another in 1861 in preparation for the London Exhibition of 1862, and then several more until being held annually throughout the 1870s under the name Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition. The term ‘intercolonial’ referred to the British colonies on the continent of Australia, which did not federate until 1901.” From 1858, the annual intercolonial exhibitions were held at the Agricultural Society of NSW’s grounds at Parramatta. In 1869, the exhibitions relocated to the “newly established” Prince Alfred Park in Surry Hills. In 1870, the Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition building opened on the site. “The American and Australasian Photographic Company was founded by Henry Beaufoy Merlin in 1866 and operated during his time as a travelling photographer, first in Melbourne, then in NSW before establishing a portrait studio in Sydney. It was a grandiose name with no apparent connection to America. Joined by his assistant, a young Charles Bayliss, along with Augustus Clinton, the company became known for producing what is now called the Holtermann Collection in the Mitchell Library.” Ref: City of Sydney Archives; Wiki.
Item #CL207-4
Price (AUD): $5,500.00 other currencies