Page 2 - 1977 NAB CalendarMaritime Life in early Australia Part One

FORT MACQUARIE FROM PINCHGUT (SYDNEY)
COVER
This view, unsigned and undated, takes in three important landmarks of
history. To the extreme left of the painting can be seen the second
Government House, whose first occupant was Governor Gipps in 1845. Fort
Macquarie, designed by Francis Greenway for Governor Macquarie, lies
between the two sailing ships. And in the foreground is Pinchgut or Fort
Denison.
‘Pinchgut’ was the name the early settlers gave to the small island or rocky
outcrop in Sydney Harbour, a third of a mile from Point Macquarie. This was
because soon after the first fleet arrived some of the most troublesome of
the convicts were sent to the island and kept upon a short allowance of food.
Following an unheralded visit to the harbour by several American warships
in 1839, it was recommended that a battery be placed on the island for
harbour defence. In 1841 a tall pinnacle of rock on the island was removed
in order to make room for a fort, but the project was temporarily abandoned
and was not revived until after the Crimean War. Several thousands of tons
of rock were taken to the island and a martello tower with strong walls - 12
feet thick at the base and 9 feet thick at the top - was built to accommodate
a number of guns. When completed, in 1857, the structure was named Fort
Denison, in honour of the Governor of the day.
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The “Fort” never served any military purpose other than storage. It is now
maintained by State authorities because of its historic interest and s a suitable
place for navigation signals, for the recording of tides by means of an
automatic gauge, and for fireworks displays on gala nights. During 36 years,
from February, 1906, a gun on the island was fired each day at 1 p.m.; the
practice was discontinued during World War II and has not been resumed.
Proposals have been made from time to time, but so far without success, for
the island to be equipped with a large statue on the lines of the Statue of
Liberty in the harbour of New York.
Frederick Garling, 1806-1873, arrived in Sydney from London in 1814. He
was really Australia’s first marine artist and is said to have made remarkably
accurate sketches of riggings, masts and ropes. Garling worked in a
Government department and his painting was virtually limited to weekends,
yet he seemed never to have missed any ship which entered Sydney Harbour.
He was entirely self-taught, working mainly in watercolours, and was unfor-
tunately so modest that he rarely signed his.
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