Central Praya Development 1860s- 1880s
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I recently found this panorama over on the Historical photos of China site. The caption had it dated 1875 but it is much earlier, probably 1864-1865 as the large building under construction in the centre is Dent's new headquarters which was completed c1866.
Comparing it to the below photo, dated 1865 but likely 1866 or 1867 (Does anyone know when the 2nd Generation Zetland Hall Masonic lodge was actually completed - I think 1865 was the start of construction, but have no real evidence for this) Zetland hall is not in the above photo but can be seen below. Other differences are no Lane Crawford on the waterfront in the above pic but it is complete below. Also 30-32 Des Voeux Road Central is under construction above, complete below. From the amount of rattan roofs there also seems to be a large amount of constrution happening on Queens Road around Duddell Street. There is no harbour wall, I wonder if the beach seen above is part of the original shoreline?
The picture below was taken by John Thomson, c1870. Comparing it to the above photos, Stonehenge at 1 Robinson Road has been completed, however no other houses have yet been built on the uphill side of Robinson Road.
Another view along the praya c1873.
The below photo was taken c1879. The central portion of Dents has had a 3rd storey built on it, losing the dome.
The final photo was taken c1886 and they have been substantial changes. The South wing of the Hong Kong Hotel is rising up above the skyline, however construction has not yet begun on the North wing and Dent's still survives. the North wing of the Victoria Buildings has been demolished, to be replaced by a 3 storey edifice. The Catholic Cathedral is complete on Caine Road and there are ew buildings above Robinson Road. The 3rd Generation P&O Building on the Praya is also complete
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Zetland Hall - 2nd Generation
Re your question after the first photograph: "Does anyone know when the 2nd Generation Zetland Hall Masonic lodge was actually completed - I think 1865 was the start of construction, but have no real evidence for this"?
The Freemason Magazine, 4 Dec 1886, page 691, in reference to Zetland Hall, records that "The foundation stone of the Masonic Hall was laid on the 1st February, 1853 ... in 1865 the building was reconstructed and an additional storey added."
In his book The Craft in the East (revised edition 1988), Christopher Haffner notes in reference to the reconstruction "A scheme for rebuilding the premises was soon under way ... It took eighteen months for the structure to be completed ..." No completion date is mentioned.