37 Amazing Vintage Photographs That Show Street Scenes of Sydney, Australia in the Late 19th Century

Sydney was founded in 1788 when the first fleet arrived in Australia from England. The city grew at a phenomenal rate through the 19th century even though transportation to New South Wales ended in 1840. By 1861 the population of Sydney was 56,000 and it was a flourishing town. By 1881 the population of Sydney had grown to an amazing 221,000. Here, we present a gallery of amazing vintage photographs (via State Library of New South Wales) show everyday life in Sydney in the late 19th century.

King and Elizabeth Street corner from Sydney, 1890

An aviary from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Children in street from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Group of people from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Children in street from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Advertising hoarding from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

A chimney sweep walking across Pyrmont Bridge Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Woman selling fruit from small barrow Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene. Phillip Street, 1885-90 Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Group of people, Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

People at Circular Quay Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Horsedrawn ambulance outside Civil Ambulance & Transport Brigade headquarters, corner of George & Pitt Sts opposite the Benevolent Asylum, now Central Square, c. 1900

Small band playing in street from Sydney, 1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Group of people from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Group of people from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Children in street from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Farm scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Girl with pet duck on lead from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Street scene from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Advertising hoarding for McLean, Rigg from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Manly Ferry Wharf from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Railway work shops, Sydney, March 1871

Governor Bourke Hotel from Sydney, ca. 1885-1890

Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Sydney, ca. 1870-1875

National Art Gallery of New South Wales, ca. 1900

Arrival of Governor Sir Robert Duff, Circular Quay, Sydney, June 1893

Pechey family, Craigend, Darlinghurst, ca. 1882

The Gap, Sydney, ca. 1880

(via State Library of New South Wales)