[glenc (Glen)]

Painting of James Dunlop. https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/collection-items/james-dunlop

James Dunlop (1793-1848) discovered most of the significant star clusters, nebulae and galaxies in the far southern night sky in 1826 when he was 33 years old. He also made a catalogue of double stars that year. If we list the largest 100 globular clusters (GC) and the largest 200 galaxies in the whole sky we find that Sir William Herschel (1738-1822) and James Dunlop discovered more large GC and galaxies than anyone else.

Where did James and his wife Jean (1790-1859) live when he made these catalogues and where did he set up his telescope?

My research suggests they lived with James Elder (1772-1836) and Mary Elder (1790-1861). Here are my reasons for saying this.

In his hand written notes Dunlop writes “on the 7th March 1826 I removed from the (Parramatta) observatory to Mr Elders house”. The Elders were fellow Scots and they named their 5th daughter Eliza Dunlop Elder (1826-1875).

Also in his catalogue of clusters and nebulae Dunlop says he observed from about 6” south and about 1.78 seconds of time east of the observatory.
This is about 55m SE of the Elder’s house.
The observatory was at latitude -33.8124, long 150.9953 and Dunlop’s telescope was set up at -33.8141, 151.0026.
That is at this red mark. https://goo.gl/maps/sMvCqg29sqrc3XBx8

On the 8th Feb 1832, after they arrived back in Australia, Jean Dunlop wrote the following to her sister Lillias Service in Scotland “We stopped in Sydney three days then steered our course for Parramatta and received a hearty welcome from Mr & Mrs Elder. They are all well and send their kind love to you all. Eliza Dunlop Elder is a fine girl (aged 6) and likes the handkerchief you sent her very well. James time is very much taken up in the observatory with the instruments, getting them put (back) in working order.”

In 1841 Mary Elder, James Dunlop and others were officially granted land on the south side of Elder’s house. This map shows their land on Marsden St south of George St.
http://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/deliver..._pid=IE3703467

An 1844 map shows the Elder’s brick house and Elizabeth Shelly’s timber house, but no house on her land on the north side of Hunter St as claimed by Collinridge Rivett in his 1988 book Parramatta Bicentenary, Australia. Dunlop probably observed from the west side of the Scots church property, the church was built later in the 1840s. This 1844 map shows the houses and the church.
http://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/deliver..._pid=IE3690442

On the 30th Oct 1848 Eliza Dunlop Elder wrote to Lily Service in Scotland to tell her that James Dunlop died (at Kincumber near Gosford) on the 22nd Sep 1848 (aged 53). His wife Jean went to Parramatta in mid Oct to see Dr Stewart because she had lost the use of her hands and arms. She was not able to write to her sister.

The Elder’s house was photographed in 1870 by the American and Australasian Photographic Company.
http://collection.hht.net.au/firsthh...sp?recno=38641

It is now the southern part (3 windows) of the Woolpack Hotel. (see the attached recent photo).

Dunlop probably observed from the paddock with the horse in the second attached B&W photo.