CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
November
25
h
, 2008
RARE 19th CENTURY PANORAMA SCROLL OF MELBOURNE
There was a time before Herod (a.k.a Jeff Kennett) and the Great Helmsman (a.k.a John So) when
Melbourne was a provincial town basking in the rewards of the gold rush and dreaming of a golden future.
It is a distant age which has been well-documented in print, but lacking a broad visual narrative.
Now a rare and remarkable watercolour and pencil panorama scroll of unknown authorship is being offered
for sale that could well be the work of celebrated lithographer Henry Burn or Henry Gritten. It dates from
around 1869 measuring 27.25 x 195cm and features its original wooden fittings.
Similar to Burn and Gritten, this work shows a painstaking approach to the detailed definition of landmarks
and structures that were significant at the time, but did not necessarily pass the test of time.
The panorama extends from the West Melbourne gasworks, close to the site of the World Trade Centre, to
the Fitzroy Gardens. The artist’s vantage point is the roof of the Victoria Barracks on St. Kilda Road, which
was completed in 1869. It reveals a place founded only 35 years earlier and ripe for expansion, thanks to the
initiative of some people and the self-serving interests of others.
“The detail in this work is extraordinary,” says Charles Leski. “We see parts of Melbourne that no longer
exist but which were important to the development of an emerging mercantile and cultural centre in pre-
Federation Australia. Here is an opportunity to buy the blueprint that a thriving metropolis is built on.”
This rare 19th century panorama scroll of Melbourne will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions on Tuesday,
December 2nd at 6.30pm. It has a pre-sale estimate of $25,000 - $45,000.
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone:
Facsimile:
61-3-9864-9999
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
