1 52 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



anchor here the stairs of the little boat-harbour are alive with officers in uniform landing 

 or departing in long-boats manned by blue-jacketed sailors, or with consuls and visitors 

 going on board to pay their respects, for nowhere is international courtesy more observed, 

 or hospitality to visitors more displayed, than in Sydney ; and a foreign man-o'-war rarely 

 leaves the Port without some festive demonstration in return for kindness received. The 

 view from the deck, or through the large port-holes of any of the men-o'-war, is singu- 

 larly charming, especially to the south, for the eye there rests on the gracefully-curved 

 sea-wall of the Cove, with the Botanic Gardens in the background, with their smooth 

 broad lawns in front and their umbrageous slopes and winding walks rising behind. 

 Through the tree-tops may be seen peeps of here and there a church-spire and the roofs 

 of the taller houses of the city. 



Government House stands well out to view on the western slope, with its 

 picturesque gardens and lawns terraced down towards the water. A few years ago the 

 dominating object of this view was the Garden Palace, the Exhibition Building of 1879, 

 the dome of which was the largest and finest on which the Southern Cross has ever 

 shone. But one mild summer morning the whole disappeared, leaving only a heap of 

 ashes. No building, however, is necessary to give a charm to the Botanic Gardens. One 

 of the earliest attemps at horticulture was made on this site, and from the very 

 beginning it has been carefully reserved. Nature has done much for the position, and its 

 original beauties have been turned to the best account by the art of the landscape 

 gardener. With good reason is it a favourite resort of the Sydney public, especially on 

 the afternoons when there is any performance by one of the military or naval bands. 

 A part of the Gardens has been laid out with a view to instruction in botany, but the 

 predominant purpose has been to make a pleasure-ground. Naval men could not wish 

 for a lovelier spot for their repose than one that gives them a constant view of this 

 singularly charming landscape ; and striking indeed, to one standing on the deck, is the 

 contrast between the implements of grim-visaged war and this abode of peace. The house 

 selected for the residence of the Admiral is situated on Kiarabilli Point, on the northern 

 side of the Harbour, and commands a complete view of the squadron. 



On the headland of the peninsula on the eastern side of the Cove is the stone 

 seat upon which the wife of one of the early Governors a lady who took much interest in 

 laying out the Domain for popular enjoyment used to rest after her rambles, and on 

 the stone her name is carved. Sitting on " Mrs. Macquarie's Chair," and looking north- 

 wards, the eye rests on the island of Fort Denison, a small rock lying in mid-channel. 

 In early days it was christened Pinch-gut by convict prisoners, who had painful memories 

 of being sent there to repent on short commons. In Governor Denison's time it was 

 turned into a fortification, a round tower being erected and several guns placed en 

 barbette. Round Mrs. Macquarie's Chair is the entrance to Woolloomooloo Bay, on 

 the western side of which are the public baths. At the head of the Bay is a wooden 

 wharf much used for the landing of coal and timber, and over the piles of lumber 

 may be seen the clock-tower of the Fish Market ; beyond lies a monotonous mass of 

 houses, the streets rising steeply towards the distant ridge, and on the western side is 

 a precipitous rocky escarpment up which stone staircases have been cut ^for foot- 

 passengers and these remain as a memorial of an earlier date. 



