The Domain, Art Gallery & Botanic Gardens

The Domain, Art Gallery & Botanic Gardens
The Domain is a large grassy area east of Macquarie St which was set aside by Governor Phillip for public recreation. Today it is used by city workers for lunchtime sports and as a place to escape the bustle of the city. On Sunday afternoons, it’s the gathering place for impassioned soapbox speakers, who do their best to entertain or enrage their listeners. It is also the venue for free events held during the festival of Sydney in January and the popular Carols by Candlelight at Christmas. The Art Gallery of New South Wales is in the northeast corner of the Domain. It has excellent permanent exhibitions of Australian, European, Japanese and tribal art, and has some inspired temporary exhibits.
The Royal Botanic Gardens encompass Farm Cove, the first bay east of Circular Quay, and include the site of the colony’s first vegetable patch. They contain a magnificent collection of South Pacific plant life, tropical displays in the Arc and Pyramid glasshouses, and a beautiful, old-fashioned formal Rose Garden. The spectacularly located gardens are a favoured spot for family picnics and wedding photographs.