427
398
The plans of the early Forties, including the earliest of all, drawn probably not many months after Hongkong was taken over, show Government House on the site, approximately, of the present covered-over service reservoir, in the Gardens, for many years the location of the old fountain. It is easy to see how, when the new Government House was built a few years later, the levelled site of the original residence remained, and formed a ready-made terrace on which much of the first Botanic Garden was laid out in the early Sixties. (see 23-12-33).
Other features of this old plan of the city are the first location of the Post Office, almost on the present site of St. John's Cathedral; the first Land Office, a little higher up, near where St. John's Place was later situated; the Matshed Church, forerunner of the Cathedral (see 2-9-33) on the north-east corner of the present Murray Parade Ground; the Harbour Master's Office, on Pedder's Hill, east of Wyndham Street (see 10-1-34); the Gaol Compound, practically where it is to-day; the earliest Government Offices, partly on the site of the present Volunteer-parade ground, and partly on the present location; and what is marked as a Chinese office, a little lower down the slope, apparently the original department for dealing with Chinese affairs.
The cricket ground of to-day was then a level piece of land forming something of a low promontory, used by the military, and bounded by the sea along its western and northern sides. The waterfront of 1841 was much closer in to Queen's Road in parts than most people imagine - the coastline curved in sharply towards the present Hongkong and Shanghai Bank site, so that a beach ran along what is now the junction of Des Voeux and Queen's Roads.
Where Ice House Street is now situated was a mere track leading from the old Queen's Road to the water's edge, and the site of the building now used by Powell's (former premises of the National City Bank) was occupied by a Government boat-house, with a private boat-house nearby. There was a road running diagonally from that point through the present block of buildings occupied by the French Bank and Chartered Bank, towards the cricket ground; and later plans show that this road was built over when the old alignment of Queen's Road was resumed, much as it runs to-day.
In what is now known as Pedder Street we see other changes, with an old pier (the original Pedder's Wharf, apparently) now buried under the corner of Jardine's offices. A little to the eastward is shown (we are still in the early years of the Colony) a private pier, now covered by Gloucester Building; and this explains the discovery of the old wharf when the foundations of this building were being dug.
In subsequent plans of the area we observe how a new private pier was built outward on the first reclamation.
17.
427
398
The plans of the early Forties, including the earliest of all, drawn probably not many months after Hongkong was taken over, show Government House on the site, approximately, of the present covered-over service reservoir, in the Gardens, for many years the location of the old fountain. It is easy to see how, when the new Government House was built a few years later, the levelled site of the original residence remained, and formed a ready-made terrace on which much of the first Botanic Gardana was laid out in· the early Sixties. (see 23-12-33).
Other features of this old plan of the city are the first location of the Post Office, almost on the present site of St. John's Cathedral; the first Land Office, a little higher up, near where St. John's Place was later situated; the Matshed Church, forerunner of the Cathedral (see 2-9-33) on the north-east corner of the present hurray Parade Ground; the Harbour Master's Office, on Pedder's Hill, east of Wyndham Street (see 10-1-34): the Gaol Compound, practically where it is to-day; the earliest Government Offices, partly on the site of the present Volunteer-parade ground, and partly on the present location; and what is marked as a Chinese office, a little lower down the slope, apparently the original department for dealing with Chinese affairs.
The cricket grounf of to-day was then a level piece of land forming something of a low promontory, used by the military, and bounded by the sea along its western and northern sides. The waterfront of 1841 was much closer in to Queen's Road in parts than most people imagine - the coastline curved in sharply towards the present Hongkong and Shanghai Bank site, so that a beach ran along what is now the junction of Des Voeux and Queen's Roads.
·
Where Ice House Street is now situated was a mero track leading from the old Queen's Road to the water's edge, and the site of the building now used by Powell's (former premises of the National City Bank) was occupied by a Goverment; boat-house, with a private boat-house nearby. There was a road running diagonally from that point through the present block of buildinga occupied by the French Bank and Chartered Bank, towards the cricket ground; and later plans show that this road was built over when the old alignment of Queen's Road was resumed, much as it runs to-day.
In what is now known as Pedder Street we see other changes, with an old pier (the original Pedder's Wharf, apparently) now buried under the corner of Jardine's offices. A little to the eastward is showi (we are still in the early years of the Colony) a private pier, now covered by Gloucester Building; and this explains the dis- covery of the old wharf when the foundations of this building were being dug.
In subsequent plans of the area we observe how a new private pier was built outward on the first reclamation
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