A Grand Panorama of Sydney by (SYDNEY.) [Robinson, Francis Whitfield.] - 1885

This tremendous 360-degree panoramic view of Sydney, inspired by Holtermann's famous 1875 panorama taken from the North Shore, surpasses that view in its detailed depiction of Sydney's architecture. It was likely taken from the rooftop of the Government Printing Office, which stood on the corner of Bent and Phillip Streets. The photograph is by Francis Whitfield Robinson, according to the National Library of Australia. Left section (left to right) – Spires of St. James's Church and St. Stephen's Church, tower of the Town Hall on the horizon, GPO clocktower still under construction, domed roof of the Lands Department building, lower end of George Street and The Rocks area, the Hotel Metropole, Circular Quay, terraces and bond stores of lower Phillip Street and Albert Street. Right section (left to right) – area around corner of Phillip and Bridge Streets with the Colonial Secretary's buildings, Conservatorium of Music, Farm Cove, Fort Denison in the distance, Botanic Gardens, Macquarie Street to the corner of Hunter Street, the Iron Church and the Rum Hospital, construction of the new Sydney Hospital, and the spires of St. James's and St. Stephen's on the extreme right. This spectacular 18-foot panorama is one of the largest photographic city views to be published in the 19th century. Please inquire for images of this enormous panorama. 16 x 222 inches (18 1/2 feet) in total. 25 albumen prints mounted on canvas as a scroll. Variable fading. Titled and dated in the negative: "Sydney, Nov 12th 1885, No. 163.".