A rare photograph preserved by the National Archives of Malta offers a glimpse into the Grand Harbour as seen from Sliema some 120 years ago. The image freezes a moment in time when Malta was on the cusp of major transformation, blending military presence, industrial ambition, and the daily lives of those who helped shape the island’s modern landscape.

Dominating the scene is Tigné Barracks, a reminder of Malta’s strategic importance within the British Empire. To the left, construction works on the Grand Harbour breakwater are clearly visible, part of an ambitious engineering project that would permanently alter the harbour’s form and function.

Less monumental but equally significant are the structures at the centre of the photograph. Located where The Point stands today, these buildings are believed to have been temporary residences for foreign labourers, mainly Sicilian and Spanish workers, who came to Malta to work on the breakwater.

The photograph forms part of the John Rogerson Collection, generously deposited by Mark Lowson. Rogerson was a British soldier stationed in Malta between 1904 and 1909, and his collection provides an invaluable personal record of the island during this period.

What a throwback!