Sydneytecture

This then and now turned out a bit of fun as Google Earth ended up being deployed to locate the artist's vantage point. It's 1845, not long after 'transportation' had ended, the Gold rush is still years away, and we're on a dirt track that leads past the new gaol to the recently built army barracks at Paddington. One day it will be called Oxford St. The courthouse was expanded in time for the 1888 centenary, but the original building is still in there. This is the full painting, and its accuracy is proven by modern technology. As the view is now built out, Google Earth in 3D showed the alignment matches.

When I found this ancient archive pic of Taylor Square I couldn't resist doing a then and now; - hey. it's my neighborhood. This is horse and buggy, highly colonial 1870. That lovely old Victorian bank in the middle would probably have gone in the major road realignments around World War 1. In case it's not obvious, we're standing outside the courthouse looking up Bourke St. A little photoshoppery follows. [all pics enlarge]