File:Lachlan Macquarie 2010 - December highlight (5227891450).jpg

This month's highlight: On 11 August 1810 Macquarie ordered the widening of Sydney streets by the military and that no building was to be erected without prior consent from the Acting Surveyor, James Meehan.

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TRANSCRIPT

Improvement of Streets etc.

His Excellency the Governor, deeming it expedient and highly necessary for the Improvement and ornament of the Town of Sydney, to enlarge the Streets and Avenues thereof, for which purpose a Party of the Military are now employed at Work, and who are to be paid for their Labor out of the Police Fund.

The Governor therefore orders and decrees, that as far as circumstances will admit the widths of the Streets shall be fifty feet including a Footway on each side, that the paling or Palisading, on each side shall be put up of a uniform height of four feet, and put up in a neat regular and durable manner, and he trusts and expects that such persons as have it in their power will voluntarily assist, by removing back their own palings and Inclosures.

+ 2nd – His Excellency the Governor, further orders and directs, that no person whatever shall erect any House or Dwelling in the Town of Sydney whether on Leasehold Ground or otherwise, without previously obtaining the permission through Mr Meehan the Acting Surveyor, who has a plan of the Town recently made out and approved by His Excellency With Instructions respecting the several parts thereof which the Governor deems the most proper to Improve, and have uniform buildings erected thereon. A Non compliance with these orders will subject the Proprietors to have their Houses pulled down, and further incur the Governor’s displeasure. But he trusts the Inhabitants, whose interests may at first view appear to be affected by these Regula- tions, will yield a ready and cheerful obedience to the orders now published, on account of the great Benefit the Public at large will derive from them and the additional convenience and ornament the Town will acquire by their being carried into complete effect.

Should any Houses stand in the way of the intended Improvements, which it may be necessary to remove, they will be erected again at the Public Expense, or a fair pecuniary Renu- 122

meration allowed to the proprietors in case they should prefer it.