HYDE PARK
Monday 22 Oct - On my third day in Sydney, upon returning from my visit to the "Sculpture by the Sea" at Bondi Beach , I alighted from the bus at Elizabeth Street, just across from Hyde Park which is close to where my husband works.
I had about 1 hour until Jose finished work, so I sent him a message that I was in Hyde Park and to message me 10 minutes before he left work so we could meet up by one of the statues.
Hyde Park is Australia's oldest park, was originally used for gathering firewood and for grazing animals, but was proclaimed as a public park by Governor Macquarie in 1810 and named after London's Hyde park. It's divided in two areas broken up by Park Street, and is known for its well kept gardens and close to 600 trees.
THE MEMORIALS
From the map below you can see where I entered on the west side of the park - to my left was the huge Yininmadyemi "Thou didst let fall" memorial, by Aboriginal artist Tony Albert, to acknowledge Aboriginal men and women who served in the various wars.
The concept for the artwork is based on the story of his grandfather Eddie Albert who served in the Australian Army during WWII. The standing bullets and the fallen shells representing those who survived and those who died.
Just ahead is the Anzac Memorial, an art Deco building inaugurated in 1934, and the main commemorative military monument in Sydney.
I didn't go inside this time, but I visited the memorial a few years ago.
You can read more about its history if you click on this link.
Facing the main entrance to the Anzac Memorial is the serene Pool of Reflection surrounded by a lot of greenery and benches where city workers can sit and relax during their lunch break.
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| Anzac Memorial and Yininmadyemi Memorial |
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| Pool of Reflection in front of the Anzac memorial |
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| Captain Cook statue (top right), Australian Museum (top right) and Frazer Fountain (bottom right) |
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| Map of the west area of Hyde Park (you are here sign = where I entered the park) |
SANDRINGHAM GARDENS
I walked across a fig tree lined avenue and crossed Park Street to the east side of the park. On the right corner is the area known as Sandringham Gardens, erected as a tribute to King George V and King George VI. The manicured gardens and fountain are very pretty.
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| Map of the east side of Hype Park |
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| Fig tree lined avenue in Hyde Park |
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| Fountain at Sandringham Gardens |
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| Manicured gardens at Sandringham Gardens |
ARCHIBALD MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN
The J.F.Archibald Memorial Fountain, is named after the owner and editor of the "Bulletin magazine" who donated the funds to have the fountain built. He specified it had to be designed by a French artist because of his love of French culture and to commemorate the French/Australian association in World War I. The fountain and statues were unveiled in 1932.
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| Archibald fountain and statues - the Sydney Tower and St Mary's Cathedral on the other side of the park |
ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL
I'm glad I paid a quick visit to St. Mary's Cathedral across the road on College Street, as both the exterior and interior were beautiful.
Built on the site of the first Catholic Chapel in Australia which burned down in 1865, the Gothic cathedral built with local sandstone is beautiful and grand at 107mt long, 24,3 wide, and the front towers and spires over 74mt high.
To reach the main entry to the Cathedral you have to climb 30 steps, but the side entrance from where I exited is at street level.
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| St Mary's Cathedral, front and side and view from the steps over a paved area with flower planters |
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| The Organ at the top, flower planters on the Cathedral courtyard, Statue to St Mary of the Cross |
When I exited the Cathedral I crossed the street back into Hyde Park, and walked past an area of the park where food stands and decorations from an Asian food festival were being dismantled, and soon I was at the "1921" War Monument where my husband met up with me.
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| An Asian food festival being dismantled, the 1921 War memorial |
THE OLD AND THE NEW
We walked a couple of streets west of Hyde Park through Pitt Street and I admired some of the old buildings, past "The Strand" an old fashioned shopping mall building from 1891, the modern Sydney Tower atop the Westfield shopping centre, Martin Place, a pedestrian mall with beautiful buildings including the 1891 GPO building. It originally housed the headquarters of the General Post Office until 1996, and is now home to retail shops, restaurants, a Hotel and banking offices.
Martin Place mall is also home to some of Australia's banking headquarters and to Channel 7 TV headquarters.
On the other side of the street an artist was painting a long canvas with underwater motives.
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| Sydney Tower, old buildings in the CBD |
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| The Strand - shopping mall |
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| The GPO Building on Martin Place |
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| In Martin Place an artist painted a long canvas |
PUBLIC ART
At 1 Bligh Street, at the entrance to the modern office building is a familiar statue similar to our green "Grown your own" aka "The Cactus" in Perth. (you can check the public art post).
This one entitled "Day in, day out" was also created by Perth artist James Angus.
On the side of the building a metal mesh curtain structure enclosed a semi-outdoor eating area.
And so slowly we arrived at Bridge Street where we caught the bus to the northern suburb of Middle Cove.
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| "Day in, day out" artwork, a beautiful door across the bus stop, a mesh curtain encloses an eating area |
