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Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
The Sydney Fig Trees Inspired Me To Paint Again
Well It Has Been A Few Years Since I Painted anything.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Pinchgut Island - Fort Dension - Sydney Cove
Friday, July 8, 2016
South Head - The Macquarie Lighthouse -
South Head And The Macquarie Lighthouse
In the beginning of 1790 a flagstaff was erected at South Head, by means of ewhich the arrival of ships could be signalled to Sydney. For nearly 2 years the Colony has been isolated. Apparently the Home Government had forgotten their very existence.
Friday, July 1, 2016
MY COUNTRY
St Jude's Cemetary - Avoca Street - Randwick
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
The Sydney Mint - Macqaurie Street - Sydney - New South Wales
The Mint in Sydney, also known as the Sydney Mint or the Rum Hospital, has a fascinating history deeply intertwined with the city's colonial past, economic development, and architectural heritage. Here's an overview of its history:
Background and Construction:
- The Mint was originally established in response to the need for a reliable currency in the early colony of New South Wales, which suffered from a shortage of official coinage.
- The building that would become the Mint was originally intended to be the Rum Hospital, constructed using funds generated from the importation of rum.
Architectural Significance:
- The Rum Hospital (future Mint) was designed by convict architect Francis Greenway, who was renowned for his neoclassical designs.
- The building's design was influenced by the classical architectural principles of symmetry, proportion, and grandeur.
Conversion to the Mint:
- The Rum Hospital was not used as a medical facility for long. In the 1850s, it was repurposed as the Sydney Mint to address the shortage of local coinage.
- The Mint was equipped with machinery to produce gold sovereigns and silver coins. It played a crucial role in providing a stable and official currency for the colony.
Coin Production:
- From 1855 to 1926, the Sydney Mint produced gold sovereigns, half-sovereigns, and other denominations of silver coins.
- The coins minted here had a significant impact on the local economy and trade, as well as contributing to the establishment of the Australian currency system.
Architectural Features:
- The building features a distinctive colonnaded facade with Doric columns and ornate detailing.
- The exterior of the building reflects the neoclassical style that Greenway favored in his designs.
Modern Uses:
- The Mint ceased its coin production operations in 1926, and the building went through various uses and renovations.
- In the 21st century, the Mint has been repurposed as a museum, showcasing its historical significance, the history of coin production, and the economic development of Australia.
Heritage Status:
- The Sydney Mint is a heritage-listed building, recognized for its architectural and historical significance.
The Sydney Mint's history reflects the evolution of colonial Sydney, from its early struggles for currency to its establishment as a reliable mint and its subsequent transformation into a museum that preserves the legacy of coin production and its impact on Australian society and economy.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Burdekin House - Macquarie Street - Western Side In Front Of StStephens Church
Macquarie Street - Western Side - In Front Of St Stephens Church
Christopher Crane became licensee of the leather bottle in Castlereagh Street on 5 August 1831 and was still leasee in 1840 when he seated his block number 9 to Burdekin Street"
IT WAS A CRIME THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL HOME WAS DEMOLISHED IN ITS 99TH YEAR, JUST Before Turning 100 In The 1920’s
Burdekin House Had Stood The Test Of Time With All The Scandals & Legal Fights Over Who Owned The Land.
One Could Say That Old Sydney Town Had Been Raped and Pillaged By The 1960’s. Just About Every Grand, Architectural Wonder Of Sydney Had Been Destroyed.
Unfortunately Most Of The Beautiful Buildings In Macquarie Street Have Been Demolished For Less CHEAP, BESSA BLOCK, CONCRETE & GLASS.
And That Was In 1933
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Moore Park Trust Legislation
The Orginial Deed Was Written And Given To The People Of New South Wales, On November 13th 1813, By None Other Than Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
Friday, June 17, 2016
The Old Toll Gate - Cnr George And Pitt Sts Railway Square
The Old Toll Gate
- Cnr George And Pitt Sts Railway Square
As continents were colonised, the practice of implementing toll roads continued. When Governor Lachlan Macquarie arrived in New South Wales in 1810, he upheld high standards for the development of New South Wales from penal colony to free settlement, including improved infrastructure. Macquarie ordered the construction of roads, bridges, wharves, churches and public buildings and introduced a building code. Funds for road construction were to come from Government funds, public subscription and the establishment of toll roads. Private operators were permitted to construct roads and maintain them for ten years, under the colony's new, strict standards; in return, they collected the tolls to pay for their own costs.
Australia’s first toll road was a newly constructed turnpike road from Sydney to Parramatta. It opened on 10 April 1811, with one toll bar positioned in George St, Haymarket and the other at the Boundary Road end in Parramatta. This was a successful arrangement, as a profit of $930 was made in 1815 alone from the tolls on the Sydney to Parramatta road
“Expensive Trifle, An Attempt At The Imitation Of Gothic: Defective In Design & Execution. Whilst It Must Excite The Derision Of Everyone Acquainted With The Style In Architecture It Must Also Raise In Responsible Breasts A Strong Emotion Of Regret At The avast Disbursement On This Inelegant & Fugacoous Toy.”
Matthew Flinders - Famed Adventurer Died A Pauper After Years At Sea
MATTHEW FLINDERS..........Famed Adventurer Died A Pauper After Years At Sea.........
The Centennial Park Eel
Queen Victoria Building - George Street, York Street, Market Street
The Queen Victoria Building
The Queen Victoria Building Was Designed By City Architect George McRae, As Sydney's Central Markets, & Was Constructed Between 1893 And 1898. Being Planned &
erected At The Height Of The Reign Of Queen Victoria and It Was Named In Her Honour & In Celebration If Her Golden Jubilee In 1887 & Diamond Jubilee In 1897
The Site Is Bound By George Street, Market, York & Druitt Streets
The Plan Of The Building Was Direct & Simple; A Long Rectangle at a Which An Entry Was Provided At Each End & At The Centre Of Each Long Side. The Markets Occupied The Basement & Were Serviced By Stairs & A Hydraulic Lift. There Were Shops & Apartments On The Ground & a First Floors, Warehouses, Showrooms & An Art Gallery On The Second, & Further Apartments & A Photo Gallery on
The Third Floor.
At The Northern End Of The Building, Extending Through Several Storeys, Was A Large Hall Used For Concerts & Balls.
In 1910 The City Markets Were Transferred Southwards To An Area Still Referred As The Haymarket, & The Queen
Victoria Building Was Subjected To An Unfortunate Successions Of Alterations Which
drastically Changed Its Architectural Character.
Major Transformation Of The Interior If The Building were Made Between 1917
And 1930. The Original Gallery Was Destroyed & The Building
was Robbed Of Its Splendid Interior. The Glass Roof, No Longer Used For Light, Was Replaced By Galvanised Iron.
In The 1950's, The City Council Contemplated Demolishing It & There Was Little Evidence Of Public Opposition.
By
The Architectural style Chosen By George McCrae For His
markets Building Became Known As American Romanesque
The design & Erection Of The Queen Victoria Building a Was A Major Architectural Achievement, The More So When Considered In relation To The Depressed State Of the Australian Economy.
By Good Fortune The Queen Victoria Building is Grouped With Its Victorian Fellows - The Sydney Town Hall - & St Andrews Cathedral.
Romanesque, Neo Classic And Gothic Styles Merge Under The Influence
Fine Craftsmanship In Stone, Has Rarely Been More Lavishly
employed In Australia for This Late Victorian Building
Another Example Of The Work George McCrae Is This Red Brick
Building In Hay Street Sydney.
A Third Building Built By
McCrae, The Eastern Market Stood In Forbes Street Woolloomooloo, But Has Since Been Demolished.
Such a Multiplicity Of Copper Domes, The Green their Patina Varying In Intensity With Changing Moisture Or Light. The Building Can Boast Some Twenty Domes.
The External Surface Of The Sandstone Shell Is Elaborately Decorated. Despite The Variety Of Elements Which Make The Expansive Facades - Windows & Door Openings In A Great Range Of Sizes & Groupings, Intricate & Ornate Mouldings, Projecting Bays & Recesses, Curbed & Square Wall Surfaces - There Is Consistency Of a Decoration Which Contributes To Rather Than Detracts From The Visual
unity As A Whole
The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is a majestic and historic shopping center located in the heart of Sydney, Australia. It stands as a testament to the city's rich architectural heritage and has a fascinating history. Here's an overview of the history of the Queen Victoria Building:
Construction and Purpose:
- The Queen Victoria Building was constructed in the late 19th century, between 1893 and 1898.
- It was designed by architect George McRae in the Romanesque Revival style, reflecting the architectural trends of the time.
Named in Honor of Queen Victoria:
- The building was named in honor of Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire for over six decades.
- Its design incorporated various elements and symbols associated with the Victorian era.
Market and Shops:
- The QVB was originally built as a market hall and housed a wide range of shops, vendors, and traders.
- The central dome area, known as the "Domes," was particularly grand and impressive, with a glass roof allowing natural light to illuminate the interior.
Transformation and Decline:
- In the early 20th century, the QVB underwent various changes and renovations, including modifications to the interior layout.
- Over time, the market's popularity declined, and the building faced challenges due to changing shopping trends and economic shifts.
Threat of Demolition:
- By the mid-20th century, the QVB was facing the possibility of demolition due to proposals for urban redevelopment.
- However, public outcry and preservation efforts led to the building being saved from destruction.
Restoration and Revival:
- In the 1980s, the QVB underwent a significant restoration effort that aimed to restore its original grandeur while adapting it to modern retail needs.
- The restoration work included repairs to the structure, refurbishing of decorative elements, and updates to ensure safety and accessibility.
Reopening as a Shopping Center:
- In 1986, the Queen Victoria Building reopened as a modern shopping center with a mix of high-end boutiques, specialty stores, cafes, and restaurants.
- It became a popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering a unique shopping experience within a historical setting.
Heritage Status and Recognition:
- The QVB is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and holds significance as an architectural masterpiece and a reflection of Sydney's history.
Today, the Queen Victoria Building stands as a beautifully restored and thriving shopping center that seamlessly blends historical charm with contemporary retail offerings. It remains an iconic landmark in Sydney, embodying the city's cultural heritage and architectural excellence