229 x 173 mm. A view looking along the front façade of Government House, with parts of the town and harbour visible in the distance. Built in 1882 when Suva became the capital of Fiji, although the decision to move from Levuka, on the small island of Ovalan, had been made some years before, Levuka being situated on a narrow strip of land between sea and high mountains which allowed no room for expansion. The move was providential: in 1885 Levuka was devastated by a powerful hurricane. Government House was partly a new construction, but also incorporated parts of the original Government House at Nasova, Levuka. Struck by lightning and destroyed by fire in 1921. The bearded European is probably J.B. Thurston (Sir John Bates Thurston [1836-1897], Consul for Fiji, 1859, Colonial Secretary after 1874, Lieutenant-Governor, 1886, Governor 1888-97.)