Australia Hotel - Castlereagh Street - SYDNEY

The Australia Hotel - Castlereagh Street Sydney

The Australia Hotel, located on Castlereagh Street in Sydney, was once a prominent and historic hotel that played a significant role in the city's hospitality and social scene. Here's an overview of its history:

Establishment and Early Years:

• The Australia Hotel was established in 1891, during a period of economic growth and development in Sydney.
• The hotel was designed by the architect William Wardell in the Second Empire architectural style, characterized by its elaborate façade and distinctive mansard roof.

Grandeur and Amenities:

• The Australia Hotel was known for its grandeur and opulent interiors. It boasted luxurious amenities, including a large dining room, ballroom, bar, and accommodations for guests.
• Its central location in the heart of Sydney made it a popular choice for visitors and locals alike.

Social Hub and Gatherings:

• The hotel quickly became a social hub and gathering place for various events, meetings, and celebrations.
• It hosted social occasions, weddings, balls, and other gatherings that attracted Sydney's elite and upper classes.

Accommodations and Services:

• The Australia Hotel provided upscale accommodations for travelers and guests. Its elegant rooms and services catered to a discerning clientele.

Decline and Closure:

• Over time, changing preferences and economic shifts impacted the hotel's viability. Modernization of accommodations and shifts in tourism trends led to decreased patronage.
• The Australia Hotel faced financial difficulties and a decline in its reputation.

Demolition:

• Despite efforts to preserve the historic building, the Australia Hotel was demolished in 1971.
• Its demolition was met with public outcry and debates about heritage preservation.

Legacy:

• The Australia Hotel's demolition marked the loss of a significant architectural and historical landmark in Sydney.
• Its legacy continues to be remembered as an emblem of the city's history and a reminder of the importance of preserving heritage buildings.

While the Australia Hotel is no longer physically present, its history and impact on Sydney's hospitality industry and social life remain noteworthy. Its story serves as a testament to the ever-evolving nature of urban landscapes and the challenges of preserving historic structures in the face of modern development

The renowned French actress Sarah Bernhardt's visit to Sydney and her stay at the Australia Hotel left a lasting impression on the city's cultural history. Sarah Bernhardt was one of the most famous actresses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for her exceptional talent and charisma on the stage. Here's an overview of her visit:

Visit to Sydney:

• Sarah Bernhardt toured Australia as part of her international performance schedule. Her visit to Sydney took place in 1891.
• At the time of her visit, she was already a legendary figure in the world of theater, celebrated for her roles in classic plays and her larger-than-life persona.

Staying at the Australia Hotel:

• During her time in Sydney, Sarah Bernhardt stayed at the Australia Hotel, which was known for its luxurious accommodations and central location.
• Her choice to stay at the Australia Hotel added to the hotel's prestige and drew attention to her presence in the city.

Theater Performances:

• While in Sydney, Sarah Bernhardt performed at the Theatre Royal, captivating audiences with her performances.
• She was known for her dramatic acting style and ability to portray a wide range of characters, from tragic heroines to comedic roles.

Cultural Impact:

• Sarah Bernhardt's visit to Sydney created a significant cultural buzz. Her performances were widely covered by the media, and her presence drew large crowds and admirers.

Reception and Legacy:

• The people of Sydney welcomed Sarah Bernhardt with enthusiasm and excitement. Her performances received positive reviews, and her visit was seen as a highlight of the city's cultural calendar.
• Her time at the Australia Hotel and her performances left a lasting impact on the city's cultural scene and theater enthusiasts.

Continued Legacy:

• Sarah Bernhardt's legacy as an iconic actress and her visit to Sydney are remembered as significant moments in the city's cultural history.
• The Australia Hotel's connection to her visit adds to the hotel's historical importance and its role in hosting notable figures.

Sarah Bernhardt's visit to Sydney and her stay at the Australia Hotel provided an opportunity for the city's residents to experience the talent of a theatrical legend. Her impact on the cultural landscape of Sydney during her visit continues to be appreciated and remembered to this day.

The Divine Sarah Bernhardt In Australia

ARTHUR PHILLIP’S INSTRUCTIONS - February 7th 1788

ARTHUR PHILLIP’S INSTRUCTIONS

On the 7th of February 1788, Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of the colony of New South Wales, issued a set of instructions known as the "Phillip's Instructions." These instructions were a comprehensive set of guidelines and orders that outlined the governance and administration of the newly established British colony in Australia.

The instructions covered a wide range of aspects related to the management of the colony, including:

1. Government Structure: The instructions established a system of governance that vested ultimate authority in Governor Phillip. He was given the power to make laws, appoint officers, and establish courts.

2. Relations with Indigenous People: The instructions emphasized the need for respectful relations with the Indigenous inhabitants of the land. Governor Phillip was instructed to seek a peaceful coexistence with the Aboriginal people, to treat them justly and fairly, and to avoid any acts of hostility.

3. Land Ownership and Settlement: The instructions outlined the process for acquiring and distributing land within the colony. Governor Phillip was instructed to allocate land for the use of the settlers and to ensure that proper records were maintained.

4. Criminal Justice System: The instructions provided guidance on the establishment of a legal system. Governor Phillip was directed to ensure the enforcement of laws, the establishment of courts, and the administration of justice in the colony.

5. Trade and Commerce: The instructions outlined the regulation of trade and commerce within the colony. Governor Phillip was instructed to encourage agriculture, industry, and trade to promote the economic development of the settlement.

6. Morality and Discipline: The instructions stressed the importance of maintaining order and discipline within the colony. Governor Phillip was instructed to enforce morality, prevent vice and immorality, and ensure the proper behavior of the settlers.

Governor Arthur Phillip's instructions played a crucial role in establishing the foundations of governance and administration in the early days of the colony. They provided guidance and authority to the governor and set the tone for the development of the settlement. These instructions formed the basis for the early legal and administrative framework of New South Wales and laid the groundwork for the establishment of subsequent institutions and systems of government.

Arthur Phillip’s Instructions - February 7th 1788

George The third; by the grace of God; king of Great Britain France and Ireland,; defender of the faith

To Our Trusty; & Well Beloved Arthur Phillip Esq. 

We; Eposing Especial Trust And Confidence In The Prudence, Courage & Loyalty Of You;

The Said Arthur Phillip; 

Of Our Special Grace 

Have Thought Fit To Constitute & Appoint You To be Our Governor General And Commander In Chief; 

In And Over; Our Territory Called New South Wales

Extending From The Northern Cape; Called Cape York; In Latitude 10 Degrees 37 Minutes To The Southern Extrmity In Latitude 43 degrees 39 Minutes South; 

And All The Country Westward; To The 135th Degree of East Longtitude; \

Including All The Islands Adjacent In The Pacific Ocean; 

Within The Latitude Name.

Our Will And Pleasure Is That You Take The Oath For the Office And Trust Of Our Governor General And Commander in Chief For The Due And Impartial Administration Of Justice 

& We Do Hereby Authorise & Empower You To Keep And Use The Public Seal; For Sealing All Things Whatsoever, That Shall Pass The Great Seal Of Our Said Territory New South Wales, And Its Dependancies;

We Further Give & Grant Unto You Full Power & Authority To Administer & Give Oaths; To Any Such Person; Or Persons As You Shall See Fit 

To Constitute & Appoint Justices Of The Peace, Coroners, Constables And Other Such Necessary Officers For The Better Administration Of Justice

To Pardon Offences; To Remit Fines & Forfeitures;

To Levy; Arm; Muster; Command; & Employ All Persons Whatsoever for The Resisting Of All Enemies; Pirates & Rebels; Both At Sea & Land

To Execute Martial Law In Times Of Invasion; 

& At Other Times; When By Law It May Be Executed. 

To Erect Raise & Build So Many Forts & Platforms, Castles, Cities, Burroughs, Towns & Fortifications As You Shall Judge Necessary 

To Constitute & Appoint Captains; Liuetenants, Master's Of Ships & Other Commanders & Officers; 

To Punish Convicts & Execute Offenders At Sea; Or During Time of Abode At Ports; Harbours And Bays

We Likewise Give & Grant You Full Power to Grant Land, To Control Commerce, & To Appoint Fair Marts & Markets.

& We Require & Command; All Members, Both Civil & Military; & All Other Inhabitants To Be Obedient, Aiding & Assisting To You; The Said Arthur Phillip; And In Case Of Your Death Or Absense Out Of The Said Territory; To be Obedient; Aiding And Assisting To Such Person That Shall Be Appointed By Us To Be Liuetenant Governor Or Commander In Chief.

Witnnessed Ourselves At Westminister On The 2nd Day Of April In The 27th Year Of Our Reign 

Cockatoo Island - Port Jackson - Sydney - New South Wales

Cockatoo Island — Wareamah in Dharug language, a place tied to women’s business and the waterways of the Wallumedegal, Wangal, Cammeraygal and Gadigal peoples — is the largest island in Sydney Harbour, parked where the Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers meet. From 1839 to 1869 it ran as a convict penal establishment for secondary punishment under Governor Sir George Gipps. Convicts quarried sandstone, raised prison buildings and dug Fitzroy Dock (opened 1857): Australia’s earliest commenced graving dock and the only surviving dry dock built by convict labour in the country.

Shipbuilding and repair grew from that dockyard seed — industrial use roughly 1857 to 1991/92, including a Commonwealth naval dockyard phase supporting the RAN. Between the convict and industrial peaks the island also housed reformatory and nautical-school institutions for young people (c.18711911). Remnant convict fabric forms part of the Australian Convict Sites serial property inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010.

Since 2001 the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust has managed remediation and public visiting — camping, events, and interpretation of convict, dockyard and residential precincts including Biloela House.

Atalante in Fitzroy Dock, Cockatoo Island, 1873 — State Library of NSW.

1913 Commonwealth Crimes Act - TREASON SEDITION

The statute on the Commonwealth books is the Crimes Act 1914 (No. 12 of 1914), assented 29 October 1914 not a 1913 Act. The live title is a year trap. It was wartime legislation for a young federation: offences against the Constitution and public order, including early treason-style provisions. Sedition as a named Commonwealth package (sections 24A–24F) was inserted later, in 1920, when the War Precautions machinery was wound back and Parliament wanted permanent speech-and-loyalty offences on the Crimes Act.

Paste that reads like a modern Criminal Code paraphrase — revolution, sabotage, a “reasonable chance” of treason under section 44 — is mixing eras. Section 44 of the Constitution is about disqualification of parliamentarians; it is not a substitute for the Crimes Act. Keep this post as a short statute pointer: 1914 Act, 1920 sedition insert, later migration of treason and sedition language into the Criminal Code in the 2000s. No invented prosecutions.

Letters patent – Governor General – Commonwealth of Australia – Constitution

Commonwealth of Australia




Letters patent passed under the great Seal  of the United Kingdom,
 constituting the office of Governor General  and Commander-In-Chief of the Commonwealth of Australia. Try





Recites Imperial at 63 and 61 Victoria section 12 and proclamation of 17 September 1900 –





A


And where as we did on 17 September 1900, I am with your price


And where as we are desirous of making sexual and persistent provision for the office of the Mandarin to you in an overpass at Commonwealth of Australia, without making new letters patent on HDMI of the sub office

Now know you if we have thought shit to constitute, order, and declare, and to buy those presents constitute, Horder, and for that there shall be a governor general and tomato and cheese here after called the company general over our Commonwealth of Australia, the person who shell Silverstein general so I’ll be goodbye

Letters Patent, dated 29 October 1900 –

Victoria, By The Grace Of God. of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland; Queen 

Defender Of The Faith, 

Empress of India;

To All to whom these presents shall come,

 Greeting

Whereas, By An Act Of Parliament, Passed On The Ninth Day Of July 1900, In The 64th Year Of Our Reign,  

An Act To Constitute The Commonwealth Of Australia,

It Is An Act That Shall Be Lawful For The Queen, With The Advice Of The Privy Council To Declare By Proclamation; 

That, On & After A Day Therein Appointed, Not Being Later Than One Year After The Passing Of This Act, The People Of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, & Tasmania, & Also, If Her Majesty Is Satisfied That The People Of Western Australia Have Agreed That Too, Of Western Australia, Shall Be United In A Federal Commonwealth Under The Name Of The “Commonwealth Of Australia”

Hong Kong House - 80 Druitt Street - Sydney - New South Wales

Hong Kong House holds the Druitt and York corner opposite the Town Hall–QVB civic pair — five storeys of Victorian Free Classical stone that still behaves like a hotel even though the guests are diplomats and office workers. Architect Ambrose Thornley drew it in 1890 as the Central Hotel; it opened in 1891, later traded as the Gresham Hotel, and kept a banking chamber on the York Street ground floor from the 1890s (City Bank of Sydney and its successors).

Tooth & Co were among later hotel owners; the late 1980s conversion to offices prepared the building for its present role. Since 1995 it has housed the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office — hence the name on the awning — and it sits on the State Heritage Register (listed 1999) as a Town Hall-precinct landmark whose exterior is remarkably intact.

Humanise the live note, keep Thornley / 1891 / Central→Gresham / 1995 ETO, and cross-link the QVB and Town Hall essays rather than re-describing the whole intersection. Soft-correct “Prominant” / “Flor” typos if any old lines remain below.

Hong Kong House




Built - 1891
Board.



Architect - Ambrose Thornley


For Well Over 100 Years, Hong Kong House Has Been A Central Feature In The Cityscape And Development Of  Sydney.. A Beautiful Example Of Victorian Architecture, The Building's Ornate Facade Gives A Special Place In The City's Cultural And Heritage Landscape. Hong Kong House Occupies A Prominant Site At The Corner Of Druitt Street And York Street, Adjacent To Two of Central Sydney's Most Important Landmarks - The Town Hall And The Queen Victoria Building.


Constructed in 1891 To A Design By Architect Ambrose Thornley, The Building Was Originally Named Central Hotel, And Became The Gresham Hotel in 1906. For Much Of Its Life It Was A Hotel, With A Banking Chamber On the Ground Flor Of The York Street Frontage. The Building Was Converted Into Office Suites In The Late 1980's, And Purchased By The Hong Kong Government In The Mid 1990's, When It Became The Hong Kong Economic And Trade Office, The Hong Kong Trade Development Council And The Hong Kong Tourism

Australian Museum - 1 William Street, Cnr College & William Streets - Sydney

The Australian Museum

Built - 1846 - 1857
Architect - Mortimer Lewis - Colonial ArchitectAdditional Architects -1861 - 1866 - James Barnet - Colonial Architect - Barnet Wing1890 - 1892 - Walter Vernon - Colonial Architect - Lewis Wing Expansion



Found In 1827 To House A Natural History Collection, Australia's First Public Museum Has Been At The Forefront Of Scientific Research, Collection And Education For 190 Years. Originally Designed By Colonial Architect Mortimer Lewis, The Building  Has Led A Colorful Life Marked By Adaption And Change.

Construction Of The Museum Began In 1846, But Was Dogged By Controversy; Lewis Resigned In 1849 Amid A Scandal Over The Management Of Public Funds. The Classical Sandstone Building Was Roofless Until 1850, When Its Grand Dome Was Finally Abandoned In Favour Of Skylight. It Opened To The Public In 1857 With Only The Long Gallery For Exhibitions - Scarcely Enough For An Institution Of High Ambition.
After A Succession Of Additions By Government Architects - James Barnet, Walter Liberty Vernon And Edward Farmer - By The 20th Century A Rationalisation Was Sorely Needed. Colin Still Of The Public Work Department Designed A Link To The Major Wings, Improving Visitor Circulation And Installed A Glass Roof Over The Courtyard With An Atrium To House The Library And Temporary Exhibitions.

In 2008 Came Major New Collections Building By Johnson Pilton Walker Architects (JPW). Designed To House Over Ten Million Zoological Specimens, The Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) Has A Glass Facade Inspired By The Luminous Color Play Of Butterfly Wings.

The New Architectural Language Was Reinforced In the 2015 Addition Of Crystal Hall By Neeson Murcutt Architects And Joseph Grech Architect, Which Relocated The Main Entry To William Street And Ushered a New Chapter In The Museum's Life


In 2017, Generations Of Ad Hoc Changes Have Been Swept Away. The Original Floors Have Been Uncovered, The Marble Columns Revealed And Restored And The Original Wire Fretwork Re Installed On All Levels.
This Has Revived A Sense Of Grandeur And Wonder, And For The First Time, Sydneysiders Can Now Imagine What Those First Visitors in 1857 Might Have Felt As They Proudly Viewed Their New Museum And It's Curiosities. 

Governor Arthur Phillip's Canvas House - Bridge Street, In Front Of The Departrment Of Lands

Governor Arthur Phillip's Canvas House - Bridge Street, In Front Of The Departrment Of Lands 

In This Vicinity was erected the canvas house brought in frames from England to serve as Governor Arthur Phillip's Temporary home. Carpenters commenced work on it from January 29th 1788, And The Governor went into Residence On February 18th 1788


Governor Arthur Phillip Lived On the Warship Sirius Until the 18th February 1788

"When He Left The Sirius And Took Up Residence On Shore"

Before Leaving London The Governor Had Ordered, At A Cost Of 125 Pounds From Smith Of St George's Fields, A Canvas House  To Be Erected On Numbered Frames And Used As A Temporary Residence


David Collins, Judge Advocate, Wrote In The Account Of  The English Colony

"A Portable Canvas House, Brought Over For The Governor, Was Erected On The East Side Of the Cove... .WhereAlso A Small Body Of Convicts Was Put Under Tents. The Detatchment Of Marines Was Encamped At The Head Of The Cove Near The Stream, And On The West Side Was Placed The Main Body Of Convicts."


This Government House Was Built Where, Governor Phillip Wrote

"Ships Can Anchor Close To Shore. At A Very Small Expense Quays May Be Constructed At Which The Largest Vessels May Unload. The Cove Is About A Half Mile In Length, And A Quarter Of A Mile Across The Entrance. "

Governor Arthur Phillip, In Honour of Lord Sydney,

"Distinguished It By The Name Of Sydney Cove"

Lord Sydney Was Was Secretary Of The Home Department, And The Governor's Immediate Superior.

David Collins Wrote -

"The Spot Chosen, Was At The Head Of The Cove, Near The Run Of Fresh Water, Which Stole Silently Along Through A Very Thick Wood, The Stillness Of Which Had Then, For The First Time Since Creation, Been Interrupted By The Rude Sound Of The Labourer's Axe, And A Downfall of Its Ancient Inhabitants -  A Stillness And Tranquility Which From That Day Were To Give Place To The Voice Of Labour, the Confusion Of Camps And Towns....."

Early Sydney Settlers - First Fleet Onwards

Early sydney settlers first fleet onwards


Governors Of New South Wales
1788 - 1793- Arthur Phillip
1810 - 1821 - Governor Macquarie





Richard Jones Mansion - Pitt Street south western side near Hunter Street

- judge Therry's Home

- Samuel Terry's Home



FAMOUS INNS OF SIN

- The Brown Bear
- the Cat and Fiddle
- The Jolly Sailor
- The Rose Of Australia
- The World Turned Upside Down
- The Whaler's Arms
- The Hero Of Waterloo












PEOPLE OF INTEREST

- Morris Asher - THE RAT PIT - Dog and Rat Fighting.

- Richard Jones - President Of The Bank Of NSW And Founder of The Bank Of Australia


- Major Robert Ross - lieutenant Governor October 1786
- Captain Tench Of The Marines


- Captain John Hunter


- Phillip Gidley King

- Robert Campbell - (Father Of Australian Commerce) - Campbell's Wharf


- Captain John Piper  - "The Prince Of Australa" - John Pipers House At Point Eliza Now called Point Piper



- John Cadman





- Francis Greenway Residence - And A List Of The Buildings The He Designed




- Joseph Foveaux


- John Palmer

- Simeon Lord - former Convict And Later Merchant - Had A Mansio.



- Mary Haydock


- Captain Reiby

- Frederick Goulburn - First Colonial Secretary
- David Collins - Judge Advocate


- James Underwood and Underwoods Ship Building Yard




- Isaac Nicholls - Australia's First Postmaster On April 25th 1809




- lieutenant Willam Kent - 1751 - 1812




- John Dunmore Lang - The Australian College



George Crossley


- John Watts - Architect


- James Bloodsworth - Emancipated Convict And Master Builder

Aboriginal Land Names Across The Eastern Beaches

• Every Day Along The Eastern Beaches Of Sydney We Speak Words That Continue To Connect Us With The Cadigal People, The Traditional Owners (TO's) Of Cadigal Country
• Aboriginal Place Names Are Spread Across Australia From Coast To Coast, Derived From The Various Languages & Dialects That Once Dominated Their Respective Landscapes. Some Of The Names Were Adopted By Colonisers & Have Been Subsumed Into Mainstream Australian Culture, Others Are Still Used By TO's, Some Are No Longer Used At All, But Have Been Recorded Historically, & There Are Many That Have Been Lost From Memory.

When You Lay Asleep Last Night & Hear The Sound Of The Ocean, of Waves Breaking On The Shore, That Sound We  Need  A sentence To Describe Is Expressed By the Cadigal In One Word "BONDI"

Historically Bondi Was Spelt Variously As Boondi, Bundi, Bundeye & Boodye. With Such A Beautiful & Poetic Meaning, It Is Surprising That It Is Not More Commonly Known. 

Alternatively, The Australian Museum Has A Record That Bondi Means The "Place Where A Fight Of Nulla's Took Place." It Has Been Suggested That This Latter Meaning May Derive From The Dull Wet Crack. A Nulla (An Aboriginal Weapon) Would Have Made As If It Hit Someone In The Head In Warfare Or Payback Ceremonies; A Sound Analogous To Be The Wet Crack Of Waves Breaking On Rocks. 

Tamarama Has Two Distinct Spellings As "Gamma Gamma," & Elsewhere As "Cramarama." It's Original Phonetic Pronunciation Must Lie Somewhere Between The Three Variations. Despite Maroubra Folklore, Historical Evidence Suggests That It Is Tamarama That Means "Thunder" Or "Thunder Clap" Or "Thunder Storm" 

Unfortunately For Coogee, It's Name Doesn't Have Quite The Poetic Sensibility That Bondi Does, Though It's Great For Sledging Coogee Residents In Sport Or Pub Banter. The Name Coogee Has Been Derived From The Aboriginal Word "Kudjah" (Kudjii), Meaning "Smelly" Or "Bad Smell". It Is Believed That The Name Derived From The Smell Of Large Deposits Of Rotting Seaweed That Once Built Up Along The Shoreline. There Is Good Historical Record That The True Name Of Coogee Bay Is "Bobroi"

"Boora" Is The Name Of Long Bay. The Traditional Word For A Pathway Was Recorded As "Mo-Ro" & Elsewhere As "Maru". Maroubra Is Believed To Be A Combination Of The Words "Maru" (Pathway) & "Boora" (Long Bay). Long Bay Was An Important Camping & Ceremonial Ground For The Cadigal, And The Traditional Pathway That Led There Passed Right Through Present Day Maroubra. 

For TO's, The Importance of Place Names Is Obvious. It Would Be Difficult To Find Significant Geographical Features In Australia That Don't Have An Original Name That Forms Part Of Greater Narratives Of Creation And Lore, Which Us Whitefellas Have Called Dreamtime these Stories Weave Their Way Across The Country Along Song Lines Often So Vast In Distance That Even Distinct Language Groups Are Custodians Of Only Part Of The Story. 

Since 2001 The NSW Government Has Committed To Recognising Aboriginal Cultural Heritage By Registering Original Place Names So That They Are Set Aside With Existing Names. Already 20 Locations Around Sydney Harbour Have Been Formally Gazetted As Dual Names Under The NSW Geographical Names Board Dual Naming Policy. 

But The Significance Of Aboriginal Place Names Is Not Just Important For TO's. They Are A Defining Element Of The Cultural Identity Of Australia. Many Are So Commonly Used, Subsumed Into Our Daily Lives, & Others So Subtle That We Fail To Recognise Their Significance. However, To Foreign Ears These Names Cleary Distinguish Themselves As Exotic; They Are Uniquely Our Own. As Such Defining Characteristics Of Our Nation In The Growing Cultural Monotony Of Globalisation, They Are Features We Should Celebrate. 

The Cadigal Have Left The Eastern Beaches Of Sydney A Greater Cultural Legacy Than The Place Names we Speak Of Daily

And when I Feel Up To Writing Again I Will Follow Up With The Greatest Gift & Legacy That The Cadigal Left Us.