An Old Dance in a New Country c1880

by Unknown

Antique print. Dancing at Government House, Sydney c1880 - An Old Dance in a New Country. "Sir Roger De Coverley" as danced at Government House during the exhibition festivities. Rare engraving with wonderful detail of Government House near the Sydney Exhibition building. Published in London for The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News on February 14, 1880. (Valentine's Day) (with fine later hand-colour).

One of the most successful of the entertainments given by Lord Loftus on his arrival as Governor of NSW was a soiree and ball on the occasion of the opening of the Exhibition. The pretty ball-room and reception hall at Government House were thronged with perhaps the most brilliant assembly Sydney has ever seen. The Governors of South Australia and Tasmania and suites, the representatives of the many European nations at the Exhibition, also several distinguished guests from all parts of the great Australasian world, were present. The youth and beauty of NSW made the rooms brilliant with the latest odes from London and Paris. So perfect were they in cvostume and pretty in face and figure, that a stranger could hardly realize that he was fourteen thousand miles away from the European centre of fashion.

The bands of the war-ships Wolverine and the Bismarck played the latest things in valses, &c. Towards the end of the entertainment, Commodore Wilson, the most popular of Her Majesty’s officers out here, especially at a dance, started dear old Sir Roger de Coverley, out of compliment to the mother land; and never was this old romp more spiritedly or energetically gone through than by our gallant brothers and charming sister of the new country.

In fine condition, the engraving within the full page, measures 23 x 30cm (9 x 12 inches).