Artefact Moriarty’s magnificent map

MORIARTY’S MAGNIFICENT MAP

AMONG THE DANIEL SOLANDER LIBRARY’S MANY TREASURES IS AN INTRIGUING AND SURPRISINGLY METICULOUS MAP OF THE SYDNEY BOTANIC GARDEN CIRCA 1861. MIGUEL GARCIA REPORTS.

The so-called Moriarty Map was initially intended to serve as a plan for a land reclamation of part of Farm Cove and the building of the Sea Wall, but thanks to its remarkable detail, it provides a fascinating snapshot of the Sydney Botanic Garden as it was in 1861.

The government official responsible for creating the map was Abram Orpen Moriarty. Born in Ireland in 1830, he arrived with his family in Sydney in 1843 and by the age of 16 was working as a clerk in the Colonial Secretary’s Department. A rapid advance through the ranks of the colony’s public service resulted in him being appointed chief clerk in the Department of Lands in 1853, and four years later he was commissioner of crown lands for New England and Macleay, as well as police magistrate for Armidale.

In 1859, Moriarty travelled to Brisbane as private secretary to Sir George Bowen, who signed a proclamation – written by Moriarty – creating the colony of Queensland. After helping establish the state’s civil service, he returned to Sydney in 1860 and was appointed Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands.

The extent of Moriarty’s involvement in the actual drawing of the map is unknown, but he undoubtedly oversaw the work of the unknown draughtsman in the execution of one of the most interesting and information-rich sources of the Garden’s physical history.

Moriarty’s chart is intriguing because it is not in fact a traditional map – instead it is a hybrid of topographic and pictorial-style maps. To serve as an accurate guide to the building of the Sea Wall, it depicts the Garden in a generally topographic manner, but it is also artistic and enlivened with illustrations depicting the vegetation.

There is a definitive attempt to render, in many cases as accurately as possible, the trees within the Garden’s grounds – differentiating between the native eucalypts such as the ubiquitous Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus teriticornis) and introduced species such as the conifers – especially the Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), broadleaf trees such as oak, and the distinctive palms. Though mostly silhouettes, the illustrations are accurate enough to distinguish individual trees and their approximate locations through the Garden. With their aid we can recognise specimens such as the Wishing Tree, and discern the spread of the original eucalypts and casuarinas throughout the Garden.

The map also depicts the existing and planned paths and carriageways intended to exploit the projected reclamation of land from Farm Cove. These features helped archaeologists accurately trace the original convict path that was uncovered during deep excavations around the Conservatorium between 1998 and 2001.

Rendered in topographic rather than pictorial form are the main buildings in the Garden and Governor’s Domain, with New Government House accurately portrayed as it was then, sans the portico

An image of the Garden just a few years after the Moriarty Map was created

which would be erected in 1873.

There is also a unique depiction – rarely represented in maps of the era – of plans for a small military installation on Garden’s land called the ‘Masked Battery’. Located just above Mrs Macquaries Chair, the Battery was a line of naval guns facing outward into Sydney Harbour, specifically towards Fort Denison, a contemporary construction. Both were built in a hurry during the Crimean War scare of 1853–1856, when it was thought Sydney faced the threat of the imminent appearance of the Russian Fleet off its shores.

The Battery was conceived as part of the primary, layered defence of Sydney Harbour together with Fort Denison, Middle Head and Georges Head. Its six guns were positioned to fire through embrasures in earthworks that effectively ‘masked’ the weapons until attacking ships could be engaged. Demolished in the early 1870s, the Battery’s antiquated cannons were discarded and the emplacement buried.

Other interesting features depicted on the map include government buildings on Macquarie Street such as The Mint, Sydney Hospital and Parliament House, as well as the bulk of old Fort Macquarie, which at the time was still the chief defensive feature of Sydney. Also depicted is the old Director’s Residence, originally sited on the grounds of Rathborne Lodge. It was demolished in 1875 and the new residence, the Cunningham Building, was constructed at the current location on Mrs Macquaries Road.

And of course, as was intended, the map clearly shows the planned area of the new Sea Wall, which was originally meant to extend from just south of Fort Macquarie, facing all of Farm Cove and then wrapping around Mrs Macquaries Point and partly down the eastern side of Woolloomooloo Bay, just north of the public baths. The enormity of the project can be seen by the depiction of the mudflats, which occupy most of the southern shore of Farm Cove and extend to just south of the Middle Pond.

It is equally interesting to observe the course of the Royal Botanic Garden’s stream, which now empties into the three ponds and out into Farm Cove. When included in the Moriarty Map, the stream is shown to curve away to the west before emptying into Farm Cove.

The complexities of the project, as depicted on the map, certainly seem to give reason for the 30-year timeline for the building of the wall, which was only completed in 1880.

‘The Masked Battery was built when it was thought Sydney faced the threat of the Russian Fleet’

A section of the Moriarty Map showing the Masked Battery

The original version of the Moriarty Map is held in the NSW State Archives. The Library’s copy is separated into 12 sections, each laminated, which unfortunately makes them almost impossible to photograph. Contact the Garden if you would like to arrange a viewing.