Market Street, Toowoomba, Queensland, antique print c1886

by Garran, Andrew

Wonderful early engraved view of central Toowoomba, c1886.

Original wood engraving after a sketch by Julian Rossi Ashton (1851-1942) for Picturesque Atlas of Australasia a pictorial record of the discovery and development of the region, published between 1886 and 1888 to commemorate 100 years of settlement since the First Fleet arrived in Australia at Port Jackson in 1788.

J.R. Ashton married in London in 1876. With his wife and son he arrived two years later in Melbourne to work at the Illustrated Australian News.  In 1881 Ashton joined the Australasian Sketcher as an illustrator, and in 1883 moved to Sydney to work on the Picturesque Atlas of Australasia. He travelled extensively throughout Australia drawing topography and townships as subjects for engravings for the grand publication.

Later hand-colour certainly enhances this engraving which is in fine condition. (Wavy lines are a scanning aberration.) 

Size of engraving is 100 x 125mm (4 x 5 inches). External mounted size is 24 x 27cm (9 7/8 x 10 3/4 inches).