Central praya C.1895

Chris Chan
Thu, 09/19/2019 - 00:19
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Central praya C.1895

Hello I am new in Gwulo.com and here is my first photo to share, it is an albumen photo showing panorama view of Victoria harbour in Central back in circa 1895. The following clues I found in this photo:

- The 2nd Gen. Central market has already built(at rightmost), so this photo at least taken after 1895

- There is no clue that the reclamation of Des Voeux Road has started yet, that means it was before 1889

I would like to hear anymore clue you guys found in this photo!

FULL HD photo: https://photos.app.goo.gl/jzqiduM45zrsJna2A

Date picture taken
1895
Tags
Victoria Harbour
Author(s)
Anonymous
Gallery
1890s Hong Kong
Shows place(s)
Hongkong Hotel, North Wing [1892-1926]
Central Market (3rd generation) [1895-1937]
Victoria Hotel, DVRC [????-c.1895]

Comments

Thanks Chris, that's a good clear view.

Comparing it with this 1906 view ...

1906 View of Hong Kong from the harbour
1906 View of Hong Kong from the harbour, by David

 

... there's no sign of the Mount Austin Hotel / Barracks, which were definitely in existence by 1897. So I think your photo must have been taken very soon after the Central Market was finished.

So I have got my lens and this is a close up of the building right hand side of the Victoria Hotel, it has a signboard writes Chinese "東昌隆", it should belong to a Chinese company named "東昌隆", anyone know what this company was selling?

Central praya C.1895 building close up
Central praya C.1895 building close up, by Chris Chan

Greetings, and another guess (always appreciate corrections ).  It is the name of an import-export company without specifying any products.  That it occupied the third level suggests it was an office not a retail shop.  東昌隆 may be translated to East thriving (and) prosperous (Company).  The second and third characters have similar meaning(s) and were arranged to give a better sound.  Interesting it was the only business with such big sign on the front.  The best lighthouse for its captains?  Regards,  Peter

I think its sign was for ships too! Because residents could hardly view the signboard from the ground floor, it hanged at 2/F, faced outward horizontally, you just needed to look at it from the sea to have the proper angle. So I guess this company should be doing foreign trades business, selling tea etc. to foreign/selling foreign good to local.