Circular Quay 1883

Original Archival

Today (Google)

This is one of Charles Syer's candid snaps. No information seems to exist about this photo, but as an historian we can draw a few clues...

Syer took photos in the early 1880s, and all his boat-related photos only show Circular Quay, Manly or Watsons Bay. The size of the boat in the background is too large to be of the last two places, so Circular Quay is likeliest. The Quay was being rebuilt in this period, which may account for the groundwork in the foreground; some of Syer's other photos at Circular Quay similarly show construction work.

Importantly, at the time, photography was incredibly expensive so taking a photo was rare. If Syer took one it would pretty much be a one-off by today's standards. So the subject was something special, worthy of taking, not just any old snap.

There is a man with his back to us with a strap over his shoulder who, at first, I thought appeared to be a ticket-seller, so probably for the ferries. But there's another bloke to the right, dressed similarly, who seems to be expressive to the man in a bowler, who is drawn back slightly. So there's a layer here we will probably never know a century and a half on.

Everyone in those days went to church on a Sunday morning, leaving the rest of the day free. And everyone shown here is in their finery, and also what looks like family groups. So probably this is a Sunday for outings. Also, those ladies' bustles with the tiered layers were only in fashion around 1882-1883. And given that the ladies' parasols are open, and the shadows cast are short, this is around the warmer months.

Which draws the conclusion - this photo, in my opinion, is of a Sunday morning at Circular Quay around 1883, of people preparing to take a day-trip ferry, maybe to Manly as that was most popular then.

PS. I want to add how pleasing the realism turned out with this. It achieved the "being there" for which I strive in these photos. The important part, for me, is ensuring the original is kept accurate in the realisation.