Ansicht Der Georgs – Strasse zu Sidney. [George Street, Sydney]

Description

Swiss version of this famous image of George Street, Sydney, first issued in the official account of Dumont D’Urvilles voyage of exploration and discovery.

The view is of George Street, looking to the northeast. The building on the left is the main Guardhouse and across the street is the male orphan house, behind which can be seen the mastheads of a ship anchored in Circular Quay. Standing prominently in the centre foreground is the Aboriginal leader Bungaree, dressed in British military livery and with king plate, or breastplate. Macquarie began the practise of issuing breastplates to Aboriginals in 1816 and dubbed Bungaree, the first to receive this dubious honour, “Chief of Broken Bay.” Bungaree was seen frequently in the Sydney area, ceremonially welcoming newcomers and teaching about Aboriginal customs, notably Boomerang throwing. Bungaree was one of the most talked about Aboriginals of the nineteenth-century and had accompanied Matthew Flinders on his circumnavigation of Australia in 1801-3.