ProvenanceThe painting was originally donated to the Port Adelaide Nautical Museum (from which the South Australian Maritime Museum collection evolved)SignificanceThe painting has become one of the iconic images of Port Adelaide in the 19th century and features on the cover of the extensive history of the Port ' Tales from a Commodious Harbour'. It captures Port Adelaide, in vibrant colour, when it was at its peak - a commercially thriving local, national and international port. It also captures the cross over between the age of sail and steam and documents the beginnings of one of Australia's most successful shipping companies - the Adelaide Steamship Company. It depicts buildings and businesses that have since disappeared.DescriptionOil painting of McLaren Wharf, Port Adelaide, by artist George Henry Walker in a gilded gesso frame. The oil painting depicts several vessels, both sail and steam powered, tied up at the wharf. These include the Adelaide Steamship Company's 'South Australian' and 'Victorian'. Ordered for the Adelaide to Melbourne passenger and cargo trade, they were the first two new ships commissioned for the Company after it was formed in October 1875. A number of prominent business premises are also depicted including the Adelaide Coffee Palace, Henry W. Thompson (ship's chandlers) J. Arle and Son, and Brittania Tavern. The large wharf crane was installed in 1865 by Philip Hains.Creator (person)George H. WalkerCreator (organisation)AcknowledgementKeywordspaintingsDate of Creation1887Date of UsageMaterialCanvas
|wood
|oil paint
|gilded gesso. DimensionType: Framed
Height: 840
Width: 2000
Depth: 70
Unit (Lengths): mm Accession NumberHT 1987.0011On DisplaySouth Australian Maritime Museum
