Creator Lesueur

Date 1802

A fascinating illustrative map of early Sydney by Baudin's French expedition on its stopover during 3 year voyage of exploraton to circumnavigate Terre Australis...The topography is beautifully rendered. Sydney Cove retains its natural shape prior to construction of the Circular Quay and landmarks are numbered in detail. Tank Stream and Bridge Street are clear, as is the topography of the Rocks. George St becomes Parramatta Rd near the cemetery where Sydney Town Hall stand today. There are gallows (35, 36) on the future site of Hyde Park. Wooloomolloo is a farm (33-35) as is Ultimo. Today's Macquarie Place is no 28 and the Governor's House is 29, site of today's Sydney Museum. The Governor's windmill and bakery is no. 30...The French, sick and exhausted from their long expedition, were grateful for Governor King's hospitality. They stayed at Sydney for almost 6 months, reparing their ships, and while the expedition was primarily scientific in purpose, they gathered reconaissance of the local geography in maps like this for Napoleon, for potential future conquest of the British colonies.

Source: National Library of Australia