Cockatoo Island, HMS GALATEA in dock

Date1870

Object number00024962

NameGlass plate negative

MediumEmulsion on glass

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionGlass plate negative of a photograph of HMS GALATEA. The original photograph is titled 'Cockatoo Island, HMS GALATEA in dock' and dates to 1870. While in Sydney on the third visit of Prince Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh, the ship was placed in the Fitzroy Dock for repair.HistoryTHE DEPARTURE OF HMS GALATEA - Sydney Morning Herald 2 December 1870. "THE third, and in all probability the last, visit which HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, and the fine frigate GALATEA, will pay to Port Jackson terminated on Wednesday, 16th November. During his stay the ship has undergone extensive repairs at the hands of Mr Cuthbert, and has left on what may be termed her homeward cruise as taut and trim as the day she was commissioned, 1pm was the hour fixed for sailing, and at noon she was riding to a single anchor, ready for the sign to get underway. A large number of spectators had by this time assembled at Lady Macquarie's Chair and on the west side of the Cove ... ." SignificanceThe Samuel J Hood photographic collection records an extensive range of maritime activity on Sydney Harbour, including sail and steam ships, crew portraits, crews at work, ship interiors, stevedores loading and unloading cargo, port scenes, pleasure boats and harbourside social activities from the 1890s through to the 1950s. They are also highly competent artistic studies and views - Hood was regarded as an important figure in early Australian photojournalism. Hood’s maritime photographs are one of the most significant collections of such work in Australia.