Fowles. Lower George Street & Macquarie Place obelisk c1848.

by Fowles, Joseph

Early Sydney engraving of Lower George Street with elevations of properties on both sides of the street including the site of the old gaol and the Obelisk in Macquarie Place.

Original engraving circa 1848 by W. Harris of the Georgian architecture of the period drawn by Joseph Fowles, who was drawing master at many private schools in Sydney, and referred to as 'Father of Drawing in the city' after his publication of these Views of Sydney. Fowles drew the streets and named many of the actual buildings and their occupants at that time. The second side of the street is shown upside down and the obelisk is shown on its side so that it would fit! Wonderful insight is provided of the part of Sydney down near the wharves, in the mid-19th century.

The engraving is much enhanced by fine later hand-colour. Page measures 310 x 270mm.