A monochrome view looking across Sydney Cove towards the wooded north shore. Fences cross the composition diagonally from the lower left which, together with other enclosures and houses to the right, draw the eye towards the back view of Government House at the top of the hill on the right. The mast of a ship is depicted rising above the row of houses in front of the harbour, and another ship can be seen anchored further out. A flag can be seen flying on the hillside behind the settlement. Back towards the centre, the hospital wharf is surrounded by several small boats, and a network of paths and fences lead up the hill to the left towards another cluster of buildings in the mid-distance. In front of them, the foreground is dominated by a clump of tall trees in leaf on the left, balanced by a leafless tree in the mid-distance at the far right. There are several figures walking and working in the scene, including an Aboriginal family in the foreground at left, two other Aboriginal figures walking to the right towards two Colonists, and three other Colonists who can be seen near the shore. Two flocks of birds can be seen in the sky, which is largely unpainted, but with clouds represented by areas of wash towards the top. The drawing is framed by a roughly drawn black ink border, and inscribed with the title in black ink copperplate script below the border.
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