A monochrome view taken from a hill to the west of Sydney Cove, overlooking the harbour in an easterly direction. The scene appears to be lit from the west, as if viewed at sunset. In the foreground, a row of thatched cottages run up hill from behind a tree, to the right of which the roofs of other buildings are visible behind a wooden fence.
Government House is depicted in the mid-distance on the right of the composition without the verandah which was added c. 1795, and Bennelong's hut, dismantled in 1795, is visible at the far end of the eastern shore of the cove. Some of the land appears to have been cultivated, and the brows of the hills behind are lined with trees. Two ships are moored in the cove, one flying the naval ensign of Queen Anne. The northern shores have been painted with broad washes overlaid with calligraphic marks indicating foliage so as to appear densely wooded, and overlap with a distant headland so that the harbour entrance is obscured. The sky is represented by a grey wash, with clouds outlined towards the centre and right. The drawing is framed by a triple-banded ink border with the inner band coloured black. It is signed by Watling, and inscribed with the title in black ink and copperplate script below the frame.
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