The engravings provided a unique glimpse into colonial life, often
depicting situations or scenes that were less than flattering, in
contrast to the majority of sanctioned views that provided a sanitized
portrayal of life in Australia. Increasingly expensive to produce, the
few illustrated newspapers that made use of original engravings for
their illustrations, and that survived the economic collapse of the late
1880’s found themselves competing against the new technology of
photographically produced half-tone and lino type processes. By the turn
of the century most had disappeared. Many famous Australian colonial
artists were employed such as Julian Ashton, Albert Cooke, Oswald Rose
Campbell, Alfred James Daplyn, Samuel Calvert and Elizier Levi
Montefiore.

 Many famous Australian colonial artists were employed such as Julian
Ashton, Albert Cooke, Oswald Rose Campbell, Alfred James Daplyn, Samuel
Calvert and Elizier Levi Montefiore.

Due to their ephemeral nature few have survived.