The top of the O is the holey dollar, Australia’s first distinct coinage. In the early years of the colony, currency was scarce. Eventually in 1812 Governor Lachlan Macquarie purchased Spanish silver dollars, stamped out the inside portion and created two new coins: the holey dollar and the dump.
See more about the holey dollar
The figure of the man on the left is an illustration of an unusual artefact from King George Sound. It was drawn by Kenelm Digby, who reproduced many specimens that he found on display in the museums of Dublin in ‘The Naturalist’s Companion’. The album was compiled in the early 1800s.
See more of Digby’s drawings
In contrast, directly below the artefact is a glamorous studio portrait of the young Jean Garling. She was a keen supporter of the performing arts in Sydney and one of the Library’s most generous benefactors.
See more Garling photographs
A view of Sydney unfolds at the base of the letter. The watercolour drawing is attributed to Joseph Fowles and shows Millers Point in the 1840s.
See more of this Sydney view
On the right-hand side of the O is a finely detailed watercolour of the interior of Sir Ashton Lever’s private museum. Lever amassed one of the richest collections of natural objects of the eighteenth century. Captain James Cook donated material he had collected during his voyages to the museum.
See more of Sir Ashton Lever’s Museum
A photograph of a confident Cecil Healey, swimming champion of the early 1900s, completes the letter O. Healey developed the two-beat Australian crawl and was known for his outstanding finishes.
See more swimming photographs
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