Getting Closer

So tired, so close...

We had the biggest Garage Sale on the Coast I think, unprecedented crowds,
standing room only!

Five of us could barely keep up, as we were bombarded with questions,
bargained down and had money thrust at us.

We actually made reasonable money, I paid back my costs. Lots of goods
went importantly.

But we still have lots left over...

I will have to do it again next week, and maybe again, and donate like crazy
to every charity around.

Here are some breaks I had, from the madness.

 I was interviewed this week for ABC radio, 'AM with Linda Mottram',
on the State of The Arts in Hornsby Shire. 

Location, next to The Mall Clock Fountain by Victor Cusack.

 I had a trip to the City of Sydney to hand over a 157 yr old family Bible. While there had the opportunity to view things from Charlotte's standpoint, her paintings subject matter. 

Here is as close as I could get to Fort Denison, bearing in mind, she had hers as a Nocturne, 

and I think with the smoky haze of residential fireplaces. How did she do it?

The other thing is, she would probably have had to be on a boat or
have good binoculars to do this, this close.

Maybe it is from an early photo as reference?

 Quickly I imagine, a woman should not have been out unattended by herself 

in those days, in a city park, going into nightfall. 

Or did she have a beau or friends to keep her company? Maybe the impression 

is hazy and simplified for this reason.

 Government House' gates were locked this day. The Governor was coming in and out, and Security was keeping the public out. So I had to sweet talk my way in, by showing the Police Guard
my copies of Charlotte's artworks, and explaining why and what I was doing.

I was personally escorted in to take 2 shots only, and thanked him profusely and out I went again.

The trees have grown over the view of the house in 110 years. The ground surface 

has changed and garden layout.

 The hardest part was the views of Circular Quay. It has changed massively in little 

over a hundred years. While some of The Rocks was saved, and there are some large, 

older buildings left, so much has gone. 

I also visited the Museum Of Sydney, and was told there are other old paintings that may help.
Arthur Streeton for one. My further research told me that some of the older buildings
in Sydney still exist, but their towers have been removed.

Of course too, the modern skyscrapers obliterate what would have been a more open view further back into the city from the Quay.

Walking on from The Rocks to The Sydney Harbour Bridge museum and lookout.

 This is an exhibit showing The Reverend Frank Cash's displays, a relative on my 

maternal Grandfather's side. This letter gives him permission to photograph the 

building work on the bridge and take photos.

I had to visit The Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout to see these displays. 

Apparently there are more at Moore College.

 The display says:

Reverend Frank Cash: Every morning for a year, the Rector of Christ Church, Lavender Bay (a former engineer) leapt from his bed to take a photo of the bridge reflected in the harbour. 

Parables of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the volume that resulted, was original and unique: part photographic portrait and apart engineering journal, liberally laced with biblical texts.

His actual camera. photos and quotes.

  I was this high up but on the facing pylon. It was a beautiful Spring day, just a bit windy.



I believe he would have been giving opinion here on the outer embellishment of the pylons.
The granite or sandstone (must check) Art Deco shells that wrap around them.

I just love them, they make it's style to me. Such good iconic period feature design.

This photo below shows an aerial view of The Quay, 

or Semi-Circular Quay as it was originally called.

One wonders how such a high view was taken? 

  See the steam ferries' funnels. She painted a boat like this. 

The wharves have changed, and the buildings just behind them.

Below is a good picture of a steam powered ferry, as seen from the bridge being built.

 Some views from the top. Our city of Sydney.

 What a difference a hundred years makes. Still building going on.

There is still much more research to be done, onto Mitchell Library, Moore College,
Maritime Museum and more.