The Select Committee on Transportation - of convicts - was constituted in November 1837 under the leadership of Sir William Molesworth, and developed a report for the British House of Commons, 'Report from the Select Committee on transportation, together with the minutes of evidence' (1837) to which this map was appended as attachment 6.

The "subdivision of the early land grants into much smaller allotments, as shown in Pyrmont, indicated the beginnings of the suburbanisation of Sydney and the creation of the classic Victorian working class inner suburbs. The importance of this development can be gauged from its inclusion in this map. On the Pyrmont Peninsula, the extent of Dr. [John] Harris's estate is show as a result of early land grants and later acquisitions by the surgeon. Shown on the map is Harris's home, "Ultimo House", which gave Ultimo its name. The map evidences the lack of development on he north west side of Darling Harbour.

The map also shows the proposed plan to subdivide the Macarthur Estate, prepared by Edward Macarthur, son of John Macarthur, in the year of his father's death (1837). The plan had 99 allotments for sale, with additional portions allocated for a church, harbour fortification and wharf. West of Harris Street an area of just over 13 acres was set aside for a reserve. The details, and colour coding, are indicated below the title on the map. The area that was to be tinted in brown is the land along Pyrmont Bay to the inshore line. The plan did not come to fruition, and the estate was sold in two lots in December 1839 and July 1840" (Brown).

The mapmaker
Born in 1704, Isaac Basire was a successful map engraver whose descendents followed in his footsteps by becoming prominent engravers in their own right. His son, grandson, and great-grandson, all conveniently named James, specialized in cartographical and topographical views; due to their shared name, overlapping periods of activity, and similarity in style, attribution of certain plates has proved difficult.