Scarce, c.19th hand coloured engraving of Pitt Street, Sydney in 1889.
The fire that occurred in 1890 in Pitt Street, in the central business district of Sydney, began in the printing premises of Gibbs and Shallard. The building contained printing machinery, paper stock, inks, and other combustible materials associated with commercial printing.
The cause of the fire was attributed in contemporary reports to accidental ignition within the premises. Gas lighting was in use in the building, and it was considered a likely source of ignition, either through a fault in the gas fittings or contact between a flame and combustible materials such as paper or waste stock. The presence of large quantities of paper and wooden internal fittings allowed the fire to spread rapidly once it had begun.
From the printing office the fire extended to adjoining buildings along Pitt Street. The structures were built in close proximity, many with shared walls and timber floors and partitions. These conditions enabled the fire to pass from one building to another. Warehouses and commercial premises in the immediate vicinity were affected, including properties extending into adjacent lanes.
The fire continued for several hours before it was brought under control by the пожар brigades. Firefighting operations were limited by water pressure and the equipment available at the time. During the course of the fire multiple buildings were damaged or destroyed. Roofs and internal floors collapsed in several structures, and stock held within warehouses was lost.
The extent of the fire included a section of Pitt Street frontage and neighbouring premises. A number of businesses were displaced as a result of the destruction of their buildings and contents. No large number of fatalities was recorded, but the material losses included buildings, machinery, and commercial stock.
From the original edition of the Illustrated Sydney News.
References:
De Vries, L. History as Hot News: World of the Early Victorians Through the Eyes of the “Illustrated London News”.. London 1996.
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 8438724
State Library Victoria: RARELTEF 052 IL696I
State Library New South Wales: RECORD IDENTIFIER 74Vv5Oy4wEgl
