Our experts were consulted and replied as follows:
"I am pretty sure it is the Esmeralda....Chilean sail training ship. The photo puts the time in the early 1960's and I recall the ship coming to Sydney about 1962.. It was also here in 1988 and in Sydney again a few years ago
DRG". and:
"Yes I agree with Derek. The Esmeralda.
For some faded reason I was up close and personal to her one afternoon back then and the date is about right also 1962 fits in with a couple of cross references of mine.
Cheers Alan S."
Voila....Nothing like a few cross references.
Note also the Opera House is at that time without any sails. Probably still in design mode.
But stay, for there is more from our experts:
"OK Let's look at the possibilities.... Rob's large image is still not conclusive. There are two possibilities of US aircraft carriers.
I think that both USS Kitty Hawk (named after the place where the Wright Bros managed to do air time under their feet in 1903) and the USS Coral Sea (WW2) were both around here at the time.
I am also interested in the vessel (which appears to be) at Circular Quay east, because that was not a wharfage area.
What do you think Alan?
DRG"
"Comrade and Others
My information source has let me down. Kitty Hawk rings a bell but also Coral Sea is a name with great significance for the R.A.N.but I'am not aware of her.
With regard to east Circular Quay wharf the northern section was still being used in the early 60s (see attached) from the newly opened Cahill expressway 9pm.
I think you can still see that shed in Rob's pic.For the rest of that area I remember substantial timber wharfage,albeit it narrow all the way along almost to the Manly ferry pier.
In March of 1960 I went down to view the recently completed Princess of Tasmania the passenger/ vehicle ferry prior to sailing on her across Bass Strait in the April and now a bit of name dropping
as I know you all expect, Johnson and Johnson the US shootapharmical company purchased an Ex WW2 mine sweeper and had it luxuriously fitted out as a world cruising corporate gin palace.
Bill Northam was the MD of JandJ and wheels within wheels I managed to attend a function on board while she was visiting Sydney. That was early 60s. Both these vessels in their time were alongside at east Circular Quay.
Cheers A.D.S. (Maritimus)"............and then:
"So there was a general cargo wharf there.
I found this ......provenance and copyright owner not known
DRG"
This happens when one is stupid enough to seek out friends for information. The following pic is that to which we cannot at this time provide attribution but will whenever we can.
It is a piece of history on its own. The original building on Bennalong Point, the site of the Opera House.