This image is from the City of Sydney's Foundations for a City: Building Sydney Town Hall exhibition http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/history/foundations
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York Street, 1842 John Rae’s sketch of York Street in 1842, looking south from
midway between Market and Druitt Streets. The brick wall enclosing
the Old Burial Ground can just be made out at the end of York Street,
and the temporary St Andrews church. The Old Burial Ground was the
Council’s preferred option for a Town Hall site. It was first
suggested to the government in 1843. The proposal met with the Governor’s
approval, but was blocked by the Legislative Council which doubted
that the Governor had the power to grant ‘a public and sacred
site’ for secular purposes. Governor Gipps proposed introducing
a bill to clarify the situation, but after receiving a petition
from the Bishop objecting to the proposed use, the idea was deferred.
The Council also considered the George Street Market and Police
Office site (shown to the left in the drawing) as a possible location.
Edward Bell the City Surveyor drew a ground plan of the site in
1865 (City of Sydney, Engineers Plans, S4-46/3) but the government
wouldn’t agree to this site either.
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