Description

St George’s Terrace is today the main thoroughfare of Perth. Back in 1832 Charles Wittenoom stood some twenty metrs back from today’s Barrack Street precinct corner as he drew this historically important view of the young township, then known as Swan River Colony. There are other artist renditions of Perth and Fremantle from the 1830s but this particular work is unique with its aspect of St George’s Terrace as it appeared in its earliest form.

To the right is the entrance to what is now Barrack Street, so named for the army barracks which originally stood along the track that continues on the other side of the Terrace. In the foreground, whare a mature Marri tree is depicted leaning over the road, was the residence of the artist’s brother, Reverend John Burdett Wittenoom, who had arrived in Perth in 1830 to take up the position as the colony’s Chaplain, a mere seven months after Lieutenant-Governor, Captain Stirling, had arrived with the first settlers on Parmelia.

Looking east down the Terrace, Wittenoom depicts the principal buildings and native trees and riding towards them in a stylish Stanhope gig is a figure identified by researchers as the Reverend Wittenoom. To the left, the hill gently inclines to the natural ridgeline that Hay Street now follows. The white-washed building shown is the original soldiers’ barracks. In front of this is the Officers’ Barracks and further along, the Military Hospital bounded by Cathedral Avenue with the adjacent gaol at the corner of the Pier Street. Opposite the Officers’ Barracks, visible between the trunk of the Marri tree and the edge of the drawing, is the small cottage which was Captain Stirling’s original home.