Woolloomooloo Bay, Sydney

Artist John Skinner Prout (1805 - 1876)

Date1842

Object number00000866

NameLithograph

MediumHandcoloured lithographic print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 185 x 272 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThis work depicts Woolloomooloo Bay and Garden Island with a woman and children in the foreground. The area was given to settler John Palmer in 1793.HistoryJohn Skinner Prout (1805-1876) was born in England and immigrated to Australia in 1840. He and his family first settled in Sydney, but when work for the artist was not forthcoming they moved to Van Diemen's Land in 1844. In the smaller colony he was more successful and he presented lectures on art and produced a folio of lithographs titles 'Tasmania Illustrated'. Prout returned to England in 1848 where he lectured on life in the colonies until his death in 1876. Located close to the initial British settlement in Sydney Cove, Woolloomooloo was granted to John Palmer in 1793. The area was gradually subdivided and settled by families and was a desirable place to live. During the 19th century it became more urbanised and the construction of the Finger Wharf in 1915 industrialised the area. The wharf ceased being utilised in the 1970s and lay derelict before being modernised in the late 20th century with Woolloomooloo once again becoming a desirable location to live.SignificanceThis work represents an area that has been important since British settlement in 1788. Its initial use as agricultural land eventually gave way for the expansion of maritime activities in the bay until modern redevelopment in the late 20th century.