Sketch of the town of Fremantle from the Court House-Arthur’s Head.

Rare, early c.19th hand coloured etched view of the main street of Fremantle as it was in the 1830’s.

Soon after Major Edmund Lockyer claimed King George Sound on Christmas Day 1826, Captain James Stirling arrived in the HMS Success to explore the Swan River. They traced the river to its source and Stirling’s positive report on the soil, climate, abundance of water and harbour, encouraged the British Government to establish a colony there. Captain Charles Fremantle was then sent in the HMS Challenger to take formal possession for Britain ‘of all that part of New Holland which is not included in the Territory of New South Wales’. On 2 May 1829, Fremantle hoisted the flag on the south head of the Swan River, where Fremantle now stands. Stirling arrived on 18 June and proclaimed the foundation of Perth on 12 August.

References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 : 2819.
Kerr, J. The Dictionary of Australian Artists Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1870 Melbourne 1992 : p.875.
Spartlis, A. A survey of Western Australian art from 1696. Subiaco 2008 : p.15.

Collections:
Art Gallery of Western Australia: Accession number 2012/0042
National Library Australia: Bib ID 3602218
State Library Victoria: Record ID 9940421127507636
State Library New South Wales: MMS ID 991012076019702626
State Library Queensland: Record number 991103354702061
State Library South Australia: 919.41042 O.35