Sydney Garden Palace - Macquarie Street - Sydney - New South Wales
The Sydney Garden Palace was a grand exhibition building that once stood in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Here's everything you need to know about the Sydney Garden Palace:
1. Construction and Purpose: The Sydney Garden Palace was constructed in 1879-1882 as the centerpiece for the Sydney International Exhibition, showcasing the achievements of industry and culture from around the world. It was designed by architect James Barnet in the Victorian architectural style and built in the Sydney Royal Botanic Garden.
2. Architecture and Features: The Garden Palace was an impressive structure, covering an area of approximately five acres (two hectares) and standing over 210 feet (64 meters) tall. It featured a combination of Romanesque and Byzantine architectural elements, with grand arches, domes, and intricate ornamentation.
3. Exhibition: The Sydney International Exhibition, held from September 1879 to April 1880, was a significant event in Sydney's history. The Garden Palace housed a vast array of exhibits, including industrial products, fine arts, agricultural displays, machinery, and cultural artifacts from various countries. It attracted visitors from Australia and around the world.
4. Destruction: Tragically, on September 22, 1882, just two years after the exhibition, the Garden Palace was destroyed by a massive fire. The fire, believed to have started in the basement, rapidly spread and consumed the entire building. The destruction of the palace was a significant loss to Sydney's architectural heritage.
5. Loss of Archives: The Garden Palace housed important collections and archives, including valuable Aboriginal artifacts, scientific specimens, historical records, and the New South Wales state library. Unfortunately, the fire resulted in the loss of much of this cultural heritage, making it a great tragedy for Australia's history and memory.
6. Legacy: Despite its short existence, the Sydney Garden Palace left a lasting impact on Sydney's cultural and architectural history. Its destruction highlighted the need for fire safety regulations and disaster prevention measures in public buildings. The loss of the archives and artifacts also underscored the importance of preserving and safeguarding historical and cultural treasures.
7. Commemoration: Today, the site where the Garden Palace once stood is marked by a monument known as the Garden Palace Ruins. The monument consists of a series of sandstone steps leading to a bronze plaque, commemorating the site and its historical significance.
The Sydney Garden Palace remains an intriguing part of Sydney's past, evoking the grandeur and cultural significance of the Sydney International Exhibition. While the physical structure is no longer standing, its memory serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and cherishing cultural heritage
There Are Very Few Photos Of The Sydney Garden Palace, Located Within The Royal Botanic Gardens & The Government Domain. Located At The Royal Botanic Gardens.
The Sydney Garden Palace Was Built To Hold The World Exhibition In September 1878. It Was The Most Magnificent Building In Sydney For The Time, Far Outweighing The Queen Victoria Building
The Palace Was Composed Almost Entirely Of Iron, Glass, With Wood Used Only In The Fittings & Floorboards.
The Construction Used
2,300 Cast Iron Girders
358 Wrought Iron Trusses To Support The Roof
3230 Hollow Cast Iron Columns, Which, As Well As Being The Primary Supporting Infrastructure, Served As Water Pipes To Carry Off Rainwater...
From The 54.7km Of Guttering.
325 Kilometres Of Sash Bars Supporting Glass Weighing More Than 406 Tonnes
The Final Structure Was 563m Long & 124m Wide With A Central Transept 22m Wide & Rising To 32.9m,
Specially Designed To Enclose Within The Building A Grove Of Tall Elms That Public Opinion Would Not Allow To Be Cut Down.
The Garden Palace Covered Over 7 Hectares And Covered 934,560 Cubic Metres, While Galleries Added Another 2 Hectares To The Floor Area.
Opening Day Was A Sensation....
Visitors Came To The Exhibition In Numbers That First Alarmed, Then Surprised, & Finally Delighted The Organisers....
Other Statistics Add To The Legend Of The Exhibition. It Attracted Far More Than 6 Million Visitors During The 141 Days It Was Open To The Public
The Exhibition Also Achieved Some Other Firsts For Australia..... Including
£1769 To The Overall Profit Of £186,000
£2 Million
It's Hard To Believe When Walking Through The Wrought Iron Gates At The Royal Botanical Gardens, That One Of The Grandest Buildings In Australia Once Stood There.
& The Following Weeks Exceeded All Expectations.
Men, Women & Children Came...
They Came Singly....
They Came In Families...
They Came....
In The End in Droves.
On One Day In October Over 109,915 People Were Admitted Into The Exhibition. .
- Many From Overseas.....
An Incredible Number Considering A Population Much Lower.... & Poorer Than Today
And Limited Transport Options
There Were No International Flights Or Bus Tours
The First Public Toilets.... Which Brought A Contribution Of
The Total Value Of The Exhibits Was Estimated At About
Not Including The Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) Diamond.
Not Surprisingly The Phenominal Success Encouraged International Emulation & The Rest Of The World Quickly Followed Suit.
Built On A Hill Which Was Originally Used As A Run For The Governor's Livestock, The Garden Palace Stood Proudly Along Macquarie Street, Above The City, It Stood As A Symbol Of Sydney & The Colonies Encouraging Growth & Maturity As A Nation.
The Palace Was Designed By James Barnet For The Sydney International Exhibition Of 1879 - 1880.
He Had Little Time To Waste & Had Less Than 10 Months To Erect What Was Originally Planned As A Temporary Building.
Over 3,000 Labourers Were Employed On The Construction Site. Special Carbon Arc Electric Lighting Was Imported From England To Light Up The Site At Night, Allowing Work To Continue Around The Clock.
The Only Hitch In His Rush Job Was A Strike That Occurred Following The Death Of A Worker.
Most Of The Carpenters Walked Off The Job Demanding Higher Wages, but Returned A Few Days Later When They Realised The Government Wasn't Going To Give In To Their Demands.
The Garden Palace Was Completed One Week Before The Exhibition Began.
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