Beaches in Sydney

Sydney is paradise for beach lovers. Within the metropolitan area there are more than 30 ocean beaches, all with golden sand and rolling surf, as well as several more around the harbor with calmer water for safe swimming. If your hotel is on the harbor’s south side, the logical choice for a day at the beach is the southern ocean beaches between Bondi and Coogee. On the north side of the harbor, Manly is easily accessible by ferry, but beaches farther north involve a long trip by car or public transportation.

Lifeguards are on duty at most of Sydney’s ocean beaches during summer months, and flags indicate whether a beach is being patrolled. “Swim between the flags” is an adage that is drummed into every Australian child, with very good reason: The undertow can be very dangerous. If you get into difficulty, don’t fight the current. Breathe evenly, stay calm, and raise one arm above your head to signal the lifeguards.

Although there’s no shortage of sharks inside and outside the harbor, these species are not typically aggressive toward humans. In addition, many Sydney beaches are protected by shark nets, and the risk of attack is very low. A more common hazard is jellyfish, known locally as bluebottles, which inflict a painful sting — with a remote risk of more serious complications (including allergic reactions). Staff at most beaches will supply a spray-on remedy to help relieve the pain, which generally lasts about 24 hours. Many beaches will post warning signs when bluebottles are present, but you can determine the situation by looking for the telltale blue bladders along the waterline.

Topless sunbathing is common at all Sydney beaches, but full nudity is permitted only at a couple of locations, including Lady Jane Beach, close to Watsons Bay on the south side of the harbor.

Details of how to reach the beaches by bus, train, or ferry are provided below, but some of the city’s harbor and southern beaches are also on the Bondi Explorer bus route. These are Nielsen Park, Camp Cove, Lady Jane, Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly, and Coogee.

Inside the Harbor

Balmoral This long, peaceful beach — among the best of the inner-harbor beaches — is one of Sydney’s most exclusive northern suburbs. The Esplanade, which runs along the back of the beach, has several snack bars and cafes. You could easily combine a trip to Balmoral with a visit to Taronga Zoo. To reach Balmoral, take the ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo and then board Bus 238. Raglan St., Balmoral, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Camp Cove Just inside South Head, this crescent-shape beach is where Sydney’s fashionable people come to see and be seen. The gentle slope and calm water make it a safe playground for children. A shop at the northern end of the beach sells salad rolls and fresh fruit juices. The grassy hill at the southern end of the beach has a plaque to commemorate the spot where Captain Arthur Phillip, the commander of the First Fleet, first set foot inside Port Jackson. Parking is limited; arrive by car after 10 on weekends and there’s a long walk to the beach. Take Bus 324 or 325 from Circular Quay. Cliff St., Watsons Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Lady Jane Lady Jane — officially called Lady Bay — is the most accessible of the nude beaches around Sydney. It’s also a popular beach on Sydney’s gay scene, although it attracts a mixed crowd. From Camp Cove, follow the path north and then descend the short, steep ladder leading down the cliff face to the beach.

Nielsen Park By Sydney standards, this beach at the end of the Vaucluse Peninsula is small, but behind the sand is a large, shady park that’s ideal for picnics. The headlands at either end of the beach are especially popular for their magnificent views across the harbor. The beach is protected by a semicircular net, so don’t be deterred by the correct name of this beach, Shark Bay. The shop and cafe behind the beach sell drinks, snacks, and meals. Parking is often difficult on weekends. A 10-minute walk will take you to historic Vaucluse House and a very different harborside experience. Take Bus 325 from Circular Quay. Greycliffe Ave. off Vaucluse Rd., Vaucluse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

South of the Harbor

Bondi Wide, wonderful Bondi (pronounced bon-dye) is the most famous and most crowded of all Sydney beaches. It has something for just about everyone, and the droves who flock here on a sunny day give it a bustling, carnival atmosphere unmatched by any other Sydney beach. Facilities include toilets and showers. Cafes, ice-cream outlets, and restaurants are on Campbell Parade, which runs behind the beach. Families tend to prefer the more sheltered northern end of the beach. Surfing is popular at the south end, where a path winds along the sea-sculpted cliffs to Tamarama and Bronte beaches. Take Bus 380 or 382 from Circular Quay via Elizabeth and Oxford streets, or take the train from the city to Bondi Junction and then board Bus 380 or 382. Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Bronte If you want an ocean beach that’s close to the city, has a choice of sand or grassy areas, and offers a terrific setting, this one is hard to beat. A wooded park of palm trees and Norfolk Island pines surrounds Bronte. The park includes a playground and sheltered picnic tables, and excellent cafes are in the immediate area. The breakers can be fierce, but the sea pool at the southern end of the beach affords safe swimming. Take Bus 378 from Central Station, or take the train from the city to Bondi Junction and then board Bus 378. Bronte Rd., Bronte, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Clovelly Swimming is safe at the end of this long, keyhole-shape inlet, even on the roughest day, which makes it a popular family beach. There are toilet facilities but no snack bars or shops in the immediate area. This is also a popular snorkeling spot that usually teems with tropical fish. Take Bus 339 from Argyle Street, Millers Point (The Rocks), or Wynyard bus station; Bus 341 from Central Station; or a train from the city to Bondi Junction. Then board Bus 329. Clovelly Rd., Clovelly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Coogee A reef protects this lively beach (pronounced kuh-jee), creating calmer swimming conditions than those found at its neighbors. A grassy headland overlooking the beach has an excellent children’s playground. Cafes in the shopping precinct at the back of the beach sell ice cream, pizza, and the ingredients for picnics. Take Bus 373 from Circular Quay or Bus 372 from Central Station. Coogee Bay Rd., Coogee, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Cronulla Even on the hottest days you can escape the crowds by heading to Cronulla, the southernmost and largest beach in the metropolitan area. Good surf is usually running at this beach, and the sand is backed by a grassy park area. Cronulla is a long way from the city by train, however, and its attractions don’t justify a long trip if you’re not staying nearby. Kingsway, Cronulla, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Maroubra This expansive beach is very popular with surfers, although anyone looking for more than waves will probably be unimpressed by the rather scrappy surroundings and the lackluster shopping area. Take Bus 395 from Central Station or Bus 396 from Circular Quay. Marine Parade, Maroubra, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Tamarama This small, fashionable beach — a.k.a. “Glam-a-rama” — is one of Sydney’s prettiest, but the rocky headlands that squeeze close to the sand on either side make it less than ideal for swimming. The sea is often hazardous here, and surfing is prohibited. A cafe at the back of the beach sells open sandwiches, fresh fruit juices, and fruit whips. Take the train from the city to Bondi Junction. Then board Bus 391, or walk for 10 minutes along the cliffs from the south end of Bondi Beach. Tamarama Marine Dr., Tamarama, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

North of the Harbor

Bungan If you really want to get away from it all, this is the beach for you. Very few Sydneysiders have discovered Bungan, and those who have would like to keep it to themselves. As well as being relatively empty, this wide, attractive beach is one of the cleanest, due to the prevailing ocean currents. Access to the beach involves a difficult hike down a wooden staircase, and there are no facilities. Take Bus 184 or 190 from the Wynyard bus station. Beach Rd. off Barrenjoey Rd., Mona Vale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. (more…)

Excursions of Sydney

For a Half Day

Manly: New South Wales has Manly Beach to thank for its sea and surf culture, for it was here, in 1902, that newspaper editor William Gocher first defied the state law against public bathing. The esplanade is now populated with rollerbladers, joggers and cyclists, while the white sand of the south beaches and the golden sands of the north beaches are crowded with swimmers, sunbathers and surfers.

A short ferry ride from Circular Quay, Manly (located 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city centre) can also be reached on foot via the Manly Scenic Walkway from Spit Bridge in the city. The walk can take up to four hours but offers some of Sydney’s most breathtaking views, as well as skirting some of its most exclusive homes.

For a Whole Day

Blue Mountains: A 90-minute drive west from the city, along the Great Western Freeway, the dramatic, forest scenery of the Blue Mountains National Park is a major attraction for nature lovers. The cool eucalyptus (gum tree) forests harbour numerous bush-walks as well as radiate a blue haze that gives the area its name. More active visitors might like to go abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking or horseriding. The area’s most famous attraction is the Three Sisters - a geological feature named after an Aboriginal legend. The easiest way for visitors to see the Blue Mountains is by car, although there are hourly trains to Katoomba from Central Station.

Hunter Valley: One of Australia’s premier wine-producing districts, beginning approximately 100km (62 miles) north of Sydney, ‘The Hunter’ has more than 70 vineyards. Although busiest during the harvest months of March and April, most vineyards remain open to the public on a daily basis and offer a range of tours, restaurants and accommodation. Two of the more popular vineyards are Lindemans (one of the largest Australian wine companies) and Rothbury Estate, famous for its concerts throughout the March/April Harvest Festival, which is an annual celebration of Australian culture, gastronomy and wine. A two-hour drive from Sydney, Cessnock is the gateway to Hunter Valley and Pokolbin, 5km to the north, is home to its main visitor centre. Alternatively, trains from Sydney arrive at Newcastle (journey time - approximately 3 hours).

Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney

The Royal Botanic Gardens were first established in 1816 and they are now one of Sydney’s finest natural assets. The gardens also offer some of the best views of Sydney Harbour, the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge possible. The 30 hectares of gardens are home to over a million specimens, some of which were planted by the newly arrived European colonists almost 200 years ago. The gardens were also home to Australia’s first vegetable patch and you can visit the site where Governor Phillip planted the first European vegetables more than two centuries ago.

The sealed walking tracks make easy work of getting from A to B in the gardens and if your appreciation runs deeper than the aesthetics, then a guided walk is a must. Be sure not to miss the many examples of contemporary sculptured artworks that are scattered throughout the gardens. The path that skirts the harbour beginning from the Opera House and leading around to Mrs Maquarie’s Chair provides magnificent views of the harbour, particularly at sunset.

The gardens are also home to the Sydney Tropical Centre that is enclosed in an impressive glass pyramid. Deeper within the gardens you’ll find the Herb Garden, The Fernery, a formal Rose Garden, Succulent Garden, the newly completed Oriental Garden and a section dedicated to Rare and Threatened Plants of the World which includes a specimen of one of the rarest plants in the world, the recently discovered Wollemi Pine. (more…)

Museums in Sydney

Sydney has an impressive selection of world-class museums, most of which are situated in and around central Sydney. These popular Sydney museums are home to some of the area’s most extensive, historic collections. Exhibitions at the museums in Sydney vary from large to small, local to international and many museums are located in historical buildings, right in the heart of Sydney. Here are some of the top museums in the diverse city of Sydney.

Museum of Sydney - Bridge Street, Sydney, New South Wales

The Museum of Sydney, in Sydney’s Central Business District, is one of Sydney’s most popular and dynamic museums. With installation and multiple-perspective art, state-of-the-art technology, interactive exhibits and many exciting displays, the Museum of Sydney explores Sydney’s early history and culture, from Sydney’s indigenous Eora civilisation and Sydney convict life. Other attractions at the Museum of Sydney include seasonal events, temporary exhibitions, a large gift shop and cafe area.

Sydney museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens

Australian National Maritime Museum - 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2000, Australia AU

Australian National Maritime Museum, in Sydney’s Central Business District, is hard to miss, standing at the western end of Pyrmont Bridge. Featuring sail-like roofs, which resemble the famous Sydney Opera House, the Australian National Maritime Museum tells the rich story of Sydney’s historic relationship with the sea. With Aboriginal canoes, displays about the arrival of the First Fleet, information on Sydney’s important surf culture, many historic artefacts, regular guided tours, a gift shop, cafe area and a number of moored boats, Sydney’s Australian National Maritime Museum is close to the Harbourside monorail.
Sydney museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Sydney museum admission: free

Australian Museum - 6 College Street, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2000, Australia AU

Sydney’s Australian Museum is located in the Central Business District of Sydney and is one of the oldest museums in the whole of Australia. This large and impressive natural history museum was established just 40 years after Sydney was colonised and features a vast collection of Australian wildlife exhibits, Aboriginal artefacts, dinosaur skeletons, many interactive displays, a popular gift shop and restaurant area. The Australian Museum is close to Sydney’s Museum train station.
Sydney museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens

Brett Whiteley Studio Museum - 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2010, Australia AU

Celebrating the life of Sydney’s famous contemporary artist Brett Whiteley, who died in the late 20th century, the Brett Whiteley Studio Museum features many exhibits about his life, including a selection of his original paintings and drawings.
Sydney museum open: Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens

Clyde Bank Museum - 43 Lower Fort Street, The Rocks, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2000, Australia AU

With exhibitions of beautiful cedar furniture, early Australian art, stunning ceramics, many original 19th-century artefacts and guided tours, Sydney’s Clyde Bank Museum can be found in the Central Business District of Sydney. The Clyde Bank Museum is housed in a grand mansion which dates back to the early 19th century and is within easy reach of central Sydney, by either bus, train or ferry.
Sydney museum open: Wednesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 18:00
Sydney museum admission: charge

Colonial House Museum53 Lower Fort Street, Millers Point, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia AU

The Colonial House Museum is housed in a delightful private house and is filled with colonial-era furniture and a vast amount of memorabilia. Sydney’s Colonial House Museum is owned by a local Sydney historian and is full of interesting historic exhibits and information.
Sydney museum open: by appointment
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens

Don Bank Museum - 6 Napier Street, North Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2060, Australia AU

Situated in the Lower North Shore of Sydney, the Don Bank Museum is one of the oldest buildings in this part of Sydney. Housing many historic exhibits and artefacts from this district of Sydney, including antiques, furniture, paintings and sculptures, the Don Bank Museum also features a number of temporary exhibitions throughout the Sydney calendar.
Sydney museum open: daily - 09:00 to 16:00
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens

Hills District Historical Centre and Museum - Community Centre, Castle Hill, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2154, Australia AU

The Hills District Historical Centre and Museum can be found in the Greater West district of Sydney and features a large collection of historic farming equipment, agricultural artefacts, period furniture and a number of important artefacts from this region of Sydney.
Sydney museum open: Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00
Sydney museum admission: charge

Hyde Park Barracks Museum - Macquarie Street, (Queens Square), Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2000, Australia AU

The Hyde Park Barracks Museum, in Sydney’s Central Business District, was designed by Francis Greenway in 1819. Located at the northern end of Hyde Park, Sydney’s Hyde Park Barracks Museum was originally built as convict quarters and is now home to a wealth of historic Sydney information about its past. The Hyde Park Barracks Museum is close to Sydney’s Martin Place train station.
Sydney museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children, families and senior citizens

Justice and Police Museum - Philip Street, Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), 2000, Australia AU

Sydney’s Justice and Police Museum, in the Central Business District of Sydney, was built in the mid-1950s by colonial architect James Barnet. Housed in Sydney’s historic Water Police Station, which was in use until 1979, the Justice and Police Museum features many interesting exhibits about Sydney’s criminal past and policing methods, including forensic evidence, gruesome weapons and famous past crimes in Sydney. The Justice and Police Museum can be easily reached by bus, train or ferry and both audio and Braille guides are available at this Sydney museum.
Sydney museum open: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00 during January; Sunday - 10:00 to 17:00
Sydney museum admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens
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Queen Victoria Building: Sydney

The Queen Victoria Building, or QVB, is a grand Victorian building located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. The elaborate neo-Byzantine architecture presents a glittering contrast to the more severe modern buildings around it. Measuring 190 metres long by 30 wide, it fills an entire city block, bounded by George, Market, York and Druitt Streets. It currently serves as a shopping centre.

History

The site, originally the first Sydney markets, was selected for the construction of a grand government building, intended to employ skilled craftsmen, out of work during a severe recession. Designed by architect George McRae, it was completed in 1898. First known as the George Street Market, the Queen Victoria Building was designed as a monument to the then long reigning monarch.

The building as completed included a concert hall, and coffee shops and showrooms shared the interior arcade with tradesmen such as tailors, mercers, hairdressers and florists. Over the years sometimes drastic changes were made, with the concert hall becoming the municipal library and Sydney City Council offices displacing many of the commercial tenants.

The building steadily deteriorated, and as recently as 1959 it was threatened with demolition. During the 1970s it was restored by AW Edwards, a construction company, and is now home to a wide variety of mostly upmarket boutiques and “brand-name” shops.

Architectural features

The dominant feature is the huge Centre Dome, consisting of an interior glass dome and a copper-sheathed exterior, topped by a domed cupola. Many smaller domes in a range of sizes dot the roofline, most notably a pair overtopping each end of the rectangular building.

Stained glass windows, including a cartwheel window depicting the ancient arms of the City of Sydney, admit light into the central area, and the roof itself incorporates arched skylights running lengthways north and south from the central dome. The intricate collonades, arches, balustrades and cupolas make the exterior a visual feast of Victorian fussiness.

Inside, the building consists of four main shopping floors, the top three pierced by voids protected by decorated cast-iron railings. Much of the tilework, especially under the central dome, is original, and the remainder is in keeping with this style. underground passageways lead off to Town Hall Station at the southern end, and to a food court at the north.

Interior displays

Two large mechanical clocks, each one featuring dioramas and moving figures, dominate the upper voids, and may be observed from the nearby railings. The Royal Clock, designed by Neil Glasser and made by Thwaites and Reed of Hastings in England, shows scenes of English royalty from King John signing the Magna Carta to the execution of King Charles I. The Great Australian Clock, designed and made by Chris Cook, weighs four tonnes and stands ten metres tall. It includes 33 scenes from Australian history seen from both Aboriginal and European perspectives. An Aboriginal hunter circles the exterior of the clock continuously, representing the neverending passage of time. (more…)

Taronga Zoo: Sydney

Taronga Zoo is the city zoo of Sydney, Australia officially opened on October 7th, 1916. It is located on the shores of Sydney Harbour in Mosman. Taronga is linked to Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo in terms of breeding programs and such.

History

The first public zoo in New South Wales opened in 1884 at Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park. After returning from Germany in 1908, Albert Sherbourne Le Souef, the secretary of the zoo, envisioned a new zoo based on the bar-less concept he saw at the Hamburg Zoo.

After realising that the Moore Park site was too small, the NSW Government granted 43 acres of land north of Sydney Harbour. A further 9 acres were later granted in 1916.

Exhibits

The Early Exhibits
The Giraffe House was completed in 1923
The Aquarium in 1927
Floral Clock in 1928
Tahr Mountain in 1932
The Tiger Pits in 1939

Under the directorship of Edward Hallstrom in the 1940’s - 1960’s several new exhibits were built including those for larger cats, koalas, apes and gorillas.

Later Additions and Changes

A critical review in 1967 led to a new emphasis on scientific conservation, education and preservation.

New exhibits were built starting with the Platypus and Nocturnal Houses, waterfowl ponds and walkthrough Rainforest Aviary. A Veterinary Quarantine Centre was built as was an Education Centre (funded by the Department of Education). Previous attractions such as elephant rides, miniature trains, monkey circus and merry-go-round gave way to educational facilities such as Friendship Farm and Seal theatre.

Current Modifications

Taronga is continually undergoing redevelopment to close the old cramped animal enclosures and replace them with larger, more natural enclosures.
Currently, Taronga is planning to acquire eight Asian Elephants from Thailand Zoos for breeding purposes, education, long-term research and involvement of conservation programs.
In February, 2003 it became the second zoo in Australia to breed the platypus.
A scenic cable car allows the visitor to get a good picture of the zoo and its magnificent surroundings.
An Asian Wildlife section at Taronga has opened in 2005.

Zoo Friends

Zoo Friends is an organisation which offers support in form of volunteers and fund raising for both Taronga and Western Plains Zoo. It’s a good way of getting behind the scenes at the Zoo and offers its members free Zoo entry. Members are also elegible to volunteer to help at the Zoo. More details at http://www.zoofriends.org.au

Animal Listing

Taronga Zoo has about 340 species and over 2600 individual animals. Some include:

Australian Wetlands
Black-Necked Stork
Little Pied Cormorant
Brolga
Australian Pelican
Pacific Black Duck
Plumed Whistling Duck
Water Whistling Duck

Australian Walkabout
Red Kangaroo
Western Grey Kangaroo
Swamp Wallaby
Agile Wallaby
Red-Necked Wallaby
Emu

Serpentaria
Boa Constrictor
Freshwater Crocodile
Fierce Snake
Komodo Dragon
Chameleon Dragon
Coastal Taipan
Matamata
Arafura File Snake
Green Tree Python
Rhinoceros Iguana
Red-Bellied Black Snake (more…)

Sydney Tower

Sydney Tower (formerly known as the AMP Tower, AMP Centrepoint Tower, Centrepoint Tower or just Centrepoint) is Sydney’s tallest free-standing structure, and the second tallest in Australia (with the Q1 building on the Gold Coast being the tallest). It is also the second tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere (after Auckland’s Sky Tower); though Sydney Tower’s main observation deck is almost 50 metres higher than that of Auckland’s Sky Tower.

The tower stands 305 metres above the central business district, it is located at 120 Market Street, between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets, accessible from the Pitt Street Mall, and sits upon Centrepoint (to which the tower is often referred), an office building and shopping centre. The tower is open to the public, and is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the city, being visible from a number of vantage points throughout town and from adjoining suburbs.

Three sections of the tower are open to public access:
The observation deck.
250 metres above ground level, this fully-enclosed viewing platform features 360 degree views of the city. This floor also features a small gift shop, a readout displaying data on the conditions of the tower (wind speed, direction and sway amplitude).
SkyWalk platform.
268 metres above ground level, this open-air viewing platform also features 360 degree views of the city. This level, however, is only accessible as part of planned and booked tours.
The two restaurants.
One A La Carte Restaurant and one Buffet Restaurant.

History

Construction of the office building commenced in 1970, and tower construction began in 1975. Public access to the tower began in September 1981. The total cost of construction was A$36 million.

Artistic use of the tower

Leading up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the tower was decorated with sculptures of athletes, which were positioned above the main body of the tower and in some cases overhung the edges. These sculptures were removed in 2003 and relocated to the site of the games, Homebush. The figures were placed atop the tower using an Erickson S-64 Aircrane heavy lift helicopter known as “Elvis”.

On several occasions, the tower has been used to launch fireworks or it has been illuminated with coloured lights as part of various celebrations in Sydney, such as New Years Eve or during the Olympics in 2000.

Tower run

Every year, the Sydney Tower Run-up comprises the challenge of running up the stairs inside the tower as quickly as possible.

Attractions

There are two revolving restaurants in the observation levels of Sydney Tower offering spectacular views.

The AU$3.75 million Skywalk - an open-air stroll a 268m up on a glass-bottomed platform circling Sydney Tower, opened on October 18, 2005. The Skywalk took four years to design and two months to build, using more than 2,000 sections of steel and 4,376 nuts and bolts. This attraction is more than twice as high as the popular Bridge Climb walk to the top of Sydney Harbour Bridge. From that height, the seaward horizon is 58 kilometres away, although inland features such as the Blue Mountains can be seen at further distances.

Popular culture

In the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie, the tower had a role as a space observatory (Sydney itself played the rangers’ fictional hometown of Angel Grove, California). The skydiving at the beginning was part of a charity event to raise money to save the tower, and during the megazord battle, the movie’s villain used the tower as both a viewing point and (after taking over one of his mecha) as a weapon.

In Godzilla: Final Wars, Zilla destroyed the tower while running rampant in Sydney.

Sydney Chinatown

Sydney ’s Chinatown is located within the southern central business district of the City of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia, in the Haymarket area between Central Station and Darling Harbour.

The current area is the third in Sydney to be known as Chinatown: in the late 19th century, it was located in the Rocks area of Sydney, it later moved to the area near Market Street at Darling Harbour and finally, by the 1920s, it had began to be established in its current location.

The Chinatown is centred around Dixon Street, a pedestrian street mall with many Chinese restaurants, and with a Paifang at each end. At the eastern side, running parallel with Dixon Street, are Sussex Street, which has a number of shops, and George Street, one of Sydney’s main thoroughfares. At the eastern end of Chinatown, at the corner of George Street and Hay Street, there is a sculpture made from a tree stump; named Golden Water Mouth, it is said to bring good fortune to the Chinese community.

At the southern side of Chinatown, next to Hay Street, a large complex (Market City) has recently been built incorporating the walls retained from the site’s previously existing produce markets. It contains a modern shopping centre, restaurants, boutique shops, a cinema complex, and a Friday-to-Sunday flea market known as Paddy’s Market, as well as a large residential tower.

Unlike the Chinatowns in some other countries, Sydney’s Chinatown has been relatively free of crime and hygiene issues, and is a major tourist attraction in Sydney. However since there are many skyscrapers in Sydney, there are some concerns within the Chinese community about the building height restrictions imposed by the image-conscious local government authorities.
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Luna Park Sydney

Luna Park Sydney (originally Luna Park Milsons Point, now formally Sydney’s Luna Park) is a historical amusement park, located on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour, Australia. The heritage-listed park first opened in 1935, and is open for business as of 2006, but over its 70 year history, the park has experienced multiple closures, changes of ownership, legal battles, and community action in both support of and opposition to Luna Park’s operation.

History

Beginnings

The location of Luna Park was formerly occupied by a series of workshops, cranes, and railway silos used to provide for the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. When the Harbour Bridge was completed in 1932, North Sydney Council opened applications for tenders to develop the site. At the same time, Herman Phillips, David Atkins, and Ted “Hoppy” Hopkins, the minds behind Luna Park Glenelg in South Australia, began to search for a location to establish a new Luna Park, due to difficulties with Glenelg Council and local residents.

Despite initial resistance from North Sydney Council towards the idea of an amusement park, Herman Phillips won the tender in March, 1935. Immediately after this, Luna Park Glenelg was placed in voluntary liquidation. The rides from Glenelg were purchased by Phillips and his fellow directors, dismantled, transported to Sydney, and reassembled at the Milsons Point site over a two month period. The construction and reassembly cost £60,000, and employed almost 1,000 engineers, structural workers, fitters, and artists, led by Hoppy and Arthur “Art” Barton.

Early years

Luna Park first opened to the public on October 4th, 1935, to almost immediate success. After a successful opening season, the park closed down for the winter months (a process which was repeated until 1972). During the closed season, rides were overhauled and repainted, and new rides and attractions were added, to provide the impression to patrons that the park had changed during the three month closures.

During the Second World War, Luna Park was a magnet for servicemen; both those treating their girlfriend to a night out, and those looking to meet someone. The park’s external lights were ‘browned out’ in case of a Japanese sneak attack on Sydney, the neon lights were disconnected, and non-essential uses of electricity (primarily for ride facades) were curtailed. The influx of servicemen drew prostitutes to the area, and large-scale brawls were a common occurrence - usually American sailors on shore leave against Australian home defence troops.

In the early 1950s, numerous changes and additions were made to Luna Park. Atkins and Hopkins went on a world tour, bringing back new ride designs and amusements from amusement parks in Holland, the United States, Germany, and Britain. The Rotor was constructed and installed, and became the stage of many stunts. Arthur Barton redesigned and reconstructed the enormous face over the park’s entrance, which had begun to sag and distort because of neglect during the war years. (This design of the Face was based on illustrations of Old King Cole, and was the basis for the current incarnation of the Face). A mothballed submarine (K-12) was acquired from the Dutch Navy, and was used as both an attraction and a backup power supply for the Park’s rides.

Post-War decline

The increasing availability of television and motor cars in the early 1960s offered the public significant entertainment alternatives. Despite efforts by Hopkins (at that point Park Manager) to maintain public interest throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, including the installation of the Wild Mouse and hiring of go-go girls, the park and the remaining six years of its lease were sold in 1969.

World Trade Centre Pty Ltd purchased the site and lease for $750,000. Hopkins and Barton, the last of the ‘original showmen’ that had built, run, and maintained the park, retired in 1970, leaving the park in the hands of the purchasing consortium. Soon after this, World Trade Centre Pty Ltd applied to construct a $50 million international trade centre on the Luna Park site, consisting of seven high-rise buildings, 929 thousand square metres of exhibition space, and a heliport. This plan was rejected by the New South Wales government, and after a reshuffle within the consortium, the decision was made to continue operation as an amusement park.

Over the next few years, the new managers scrapped several of the old rides, replacing them with new, American-designed thrill rides. After consultation with Hanna-Barbera, Luna Park’s slogan was changed from “Just for Fun” to “The Place where Happiness is”. Another result of the consultation was the creation of a park mascot, ‘Luna Bear - the Space Age Koala’. The park was opened year-round in 1972, removing the valuable overhaul and maintenance period for the rides. When Luna Park’s lease expired in 1975, the directors went into negotiation with the New South Wales government to renew the lease. However, when Neville Wran became State Premier in 1976 the negotiations ground to a halt. The park was allowed to continue operating.

On April 16th, 1979, 13 people were injured on the Big Dipper. A steel runner had come loose, halting one of the three rollercoaster trains. The following train rammed the stationary one, causing the injuries. In hindsight, this was seen as an ignored warning.

Ghost Train tragedy

Tragedy struck on June 9th, 1979, when the park’s Ghost Train caught fire. Because the ride was understaffed and the park’s fire hose system did not adequately cover the ride, the fire quickly spread and destroyed the entire ride. Searches of the charred rubble revealed the bodies of six children and one adult.

A coronial inquest was conducted by the NSW government. It was unable to establish the cause of the fire, but concluded that Luna Park’s managers and operators had failed in their duty of care towards the Park’s patrons.

Further incidents with the rides and scenery, while not causing any serious injury, were enough for the NSW government to call for tenders at the end of July 1979. Two rounds of tenders failed to produce a satisfactory result for both the government and the applicants. A third round of tenders was called for in March 1980. As these tenders were being considered, ‘Friends of Luna Park’, a group founded by former and current Luna Park artists and concerned citizens, organised a “Save Luna Park” protest march from the Opera House to the Face. This was followed by a free concert headlined by Mental As Anything to promote awareness of the Park’s plight. One of the results of this was the listing of the Luna Park Face as an item of national heritage by the National Trust of Australia, with the rest of Luna Park given a ‘recorded’ classification

Harbourside

Australian Amusements Associates won the tender in September 1980, and took over administration of the site in early June 1981. Luna Park was closed at the end of May, and on May 31st and June 1st, an auction was held to sell everything in the park that could be removed. Two days later, everything that hadn’t been sold (with the exception of the Face, Crystal Palace, and Coney Island) was bulldozed to the ground and burnt. The park was rebuilt by Australian Amusements, following design advice from Texas-based LARC International.

Harbourside Amusement Park opened in April 1982 (the change in name caused by a dispute between the current and previous owners, preventing use of the Luna Park name). The park ran until 1988. During this six year period, the Face was removed from the entry gates, the owners of Harbourside butted heads twice with the Department of Public Works, and one director was the subject of an inquiry by the Corporate Affairs Commission. The park was closed when the directors were presented with reports from independent engineers stating that several rides in the park had to be shut down for “renovations and repairs”.

In November 1988, Harbourside’s lease was transferred to Luna Park Investments Pty Ltd. A year later, after no efforts had been made to redevelop and reopen Luna Park, the New South Wales State Government issued an ultimatum - open Luna Park by June 1st, 1990, or lose the lease. Despite this ultimatum, Luna Park Investments did a minimum to prepare the site. Rides were moved around, repainted, and renamed, to give the appearance that the new owners were trying to make an effort. The directors kept putting forward excuses to try and gain an extension, even going so far as to declare a union ban on their own site. Four days after the government ultimatum passed, the lease was terminated and the Luna Park Reserve Trust was established. Soon after this, the National Heritage Trust added several buildings on the site to its list of protected structures.

A new beginning

In 1991, a two-stage plan for the redevelopment and restoration of Luna Park was given the green light, with $25 million granted by the Open Space and Heritage Fund towards the project. The actual construction plans were approved by North Sydney Council in August 1992, with Ted Hopkins also supporting the plans shown to him. Construction work began in January 1993, with the Face being moved back to its place over the entry gate. An ‘army’ of tradesmen and artists worked for six months on the restoration of the park’s buildings, and on the repair of numerous artworks, including several of Arthur Barton’s murals.

During the reconstruction, there was vocal opposition from a number of residents and companies, on a variety of issues. The main points of opposition were the noise levels of the park after opening, and the installation of a 40 metre tall steel roller coaster (to be renamed the Big Dipper after the original). The Environmental Protection Authority approved the construction of the new Big Dipper, on the condition that the Trust abided by strict noise control guidelines and covered the cost of soundproofing for any residents affected by excessive noise. In addition, North Sydney Council imposed a series of times when the roller coaster could not operate.

Luna Park reopened in January 1995. In the months that followed, the park was affected by poor weather conditions, causing lower than predicted attendance. Legal claims against the operation of the park and roller coaster were filed by some local residents, and backed up by business figures whose tenders for the redevelopment had not been accepted. The newly-elected Carr government put the park’s long-term viability in doubt; first removing the government guarantee of a $14 million loan to the Trust, then dissolving the Trust’s board of directors and appointing an administrator. The park was forced to close again on February 14th, 1996.

Metro Edgley

Although the government said at the time of closure that submissions to utilise the Luna Park site would not be considered, several groups made public their ideas about how the park could be altered and run to satisfy the majority. There was also ‘grass roots support’ for the reopening of Luna Park; one example of this was the collection of a 5,000 signature petition by a small group of high school students. In June 1997, the New South Wales Government presented four development proposals to the public. After a month of public viewing and comment, a ‘diverse-use’ plan, encompassing rides and amusements, restaurants, cafes, and function capacity was announced as the ‘winning’ proposal. Tenders were called for to make it a reality.

It wasn’t until July 1999 that the results of the tendering process were made public. Metro Edgley Group was awarded the tender. Their proposal intended for most of the rides to stay, but called for the Big Dipper to be replaced with a multipurpose concert venue, and asked to redevelop Crystal Palace as a function centre. Further consultation with North Sydney Council brought the development to a standstill, with the Council and the directors of Metro Edgley clashing over several aspects of the proposed redevelopment. A revised proposal was submitted in early 2000, but this was not cleared by the Council until 2002. On top of this, specific applications had to be lodged for each element of the plan, each of which in turn would require community consultation. The development eventually began in 2003.

During the long decision-making and approval process, Luna Park was permitted to open for several charity-organised events, including for Variety Club and the Spastic Centre. The park was also allowed to operate on weekends and school holidays in late 2000 and early 2001, under strict, court-appointed conditions.

Redevelopment to today

The redevelopment and restoration of Luna Park was conducted over 14 months. The rides were removed, restored, and upgraded to comply with modern safety standards. Crystal Palace was redesigned with several function rooms, one of which took up the entire lower floor. A 2,000 seat multipurpose auditorium, the Big Top, was constructed.

Luna Park re-opened on April 4th, 2004. Despite rain and low temperatures, several thousand people attended the opening day, many enjoying the opportunity to indulge in nostalgia. Within two months, the total attendance figure reached 200,000.

As of 2006, Sydney’s Luna Park is open and operating, having celebrated its 70th anniversary in October 2005. After the closure of Australia’s Wonderland at the end of 2004, Luna Park became the largest amusement park in New South Wales.

Park Layout

The Face

Based on the enormous smiling faces at Luna Park St Kilda and Steeplechase Park in the United States, Luna Park’s 9 metre wide smiling Face, as well as its flanking towers, have presided over the main entrance for almost all of the park’s 70 year history. There have been eight distinct Faces over the park’s 70 year history. The eighth and current Face, designed in 1995 and carved from polyurethane, is based on Arthur Barton’s 1950s “Old King Cole” version.

Midway

Stretching from the Face to Coney Island, the Midway has always been the main thoroughfare of Luna Park. The Midway, as it has always done, allows access throughout the main section of the park. It is the focus of many activities and amusements, and provides access to the Crystal Palace, Big Top, and Coney Island, along with the majority of Luna Park’s permanent rides.

Crystal Palace

Beginning life in 1935 as a dodgem hall and office space, the Crystal Palace has seen many uses over the past seventy years, including as a dance hall, a BMX track, an arcade, and a restaurant and bar.

Since the 2004 reopening, Crystal Palace has been host to four of the seven rooms used by Luna Park’s functions business. The main room stretches across the entire lower floor of Crystal Palace, and is often used for wedding receptions and other large social functions.

Big Top

Constructed during the 2003 redevelopment on the site of the Ghost Train, the Big Top (originally to be named the Luna Circus) is a fully licensed, multipurpose venue capable of seating 2,000 people (this capacity can increase to 3,000 for standing-only concerts). The modular design of the stage and seating allows the entire venue to be easily reconfigured to suit events such as concerts, large functions, and exhibitions. In addition, the concrete building is heavily soundproofed to cut down on noise pollution.
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Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is located at 33°51′25?S, 151°12′55?E in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the most distinctive and famous 20th century buildings, and one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. Situated on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour, with parkland to its south and close to the enormous Sydney Harbour Bridge, the building and its surroundings form an iconic Australian image. To some the spherical-sectioned shells are reminiscent of the flotilla of sailboats commonly cruising there. Tourists - mostly with little or no interest in opera - throng to the building in the thousands every week purely to see it.

As well as many touring theatre, ballet, and musical productions the Opera House is the home of Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. It is administered by the Opera House Trust, under the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of the Arts.

The roofs of the House are constructed of 1,056,000 glazed white granite tiles, imported from Sweden. Despite their self-cleaning nature, they are still subject to periodic maintenance and replacement.

Performance venues and facilities

The Sydney Opera House has about 1000 rooms, including five theatres, five rehearsal studios, two main halls, four restaurants, six bars and numerous souvenir shops.

The House interior is composed of pink granite mined from Tarana, NSW and wood and brush box plywood supplied from northern NSW.

The theatres are housed in a series of large shells, conceived by dissecting a hemisphere. The Concert Hall and Opera Theatre are contained in the largest shells, and the other theatres are located on the sides of the shells. The smallest building is home to the Bennelong Restaurant.

A much smaller set of shells set to one side of the Monumental steps houses one of the restaurants.

There are five theatres which make up the performance facilities of the Opera House:
The Concert Hall, with 2,679 seats, contains the Sydney Opera House Grand Organ, the largest mechanical tracker action organ in the world with over 10,000 pipes.
The Opera Theatre, with 1,547 seats, is the main performance space for Opera Australia.
The Drama Theatre, with 544 seats.
The Playhouse, with 398 seats.
The Studio Theatre, with 364 seats.

History

Origins

The Sydney Opera House can be said to have had its beginning during the late 1940s in the endeavours of Eugene Goossens, the Director of the NSW State Conservatorium of Music at the time, who lobbied to have a suitable venue for large theatrical productions built. At the time, the normal venue for such productions was the Sydney Town Hall, but this venue was simply not large enough. By 1954, Goossens succeeded in gaining the support of NSW Premier Joseph Cahill, who called for designs for a dedicated opera house.

It was also Goossens who insisted that Bennelong Point be the site for the Opera House. Cahill had wanted it to be on or near the Wynyard Railway Station, located in the north-western Sydney CBD.

The competition that Cahill organised received 233 entries. The basic design that was finally accepted in 1955 was submitted by Jørn Utzon, a Danish architect. Utzon arrived in Sydney in 1957 to help supervise the project.

Utzon and construction of the Opera House

The Fort Macquarie Tram Depot, occupying the site at the time of these plans, was demolished in 1958, and formal construction of the Opera House began in March, 1959. The project was built in three stages. Stage I (1959-1963) consisted of building the upper podium. Stage II (1963-1967) saw the construction of the outer shells. Stage III consisted of the interior design and construction (1967-73).

Stage I was started on December 5, 1958, and work commenced on the podium on May 5, 1959 by the firm of Civil and Civic. The government had pushed for work to begin so early because they were afraid funding, or public opinion, might turn against them. However major structural issues still plagued the design (most notably the sails, which were still parabolic at the time).

By January 23, 1961, work was running 47 weeks behind, mainly due to unexpected difficulties (wet weather, unexpected difficulty diverting stormwater, construction beginning before proper engineering drawings had been prepared, changes of original contract documents). Work on the podium was finally completed on August 31, 1962.

Stage II, the shells were originally designed as a series of parabolas, however engineers Ove Arup and partners had not been able to find an acceptable solution to constructing them. In mid 1961 Utzon handed the engineers his solution to the problem, the shells all being created as ribs from a sphere of the same radius. This not only satisfied the engineers, and cut down the project time drastically from what it could have been (it also allowed the roof tiles to be prefabricated in sheets on the ground, instead of being stuck on individually in mid-air), but also created the wonderful shapes so instantly recognisable today. Ove Arup and partners supervised the construction of the shells, estimating on April 6, 1962 that it would be completed between August 1964 and March 1965. By the end of 1965, the estimated finish for stage II was July 1967.

Stage III, the interiors, started with Utzon moving his entire office to Sydney in February 1963. However, there was a change of government in 1965, and the new Askin government declared that the project was now under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works. In October 1965, Utzon gave the Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes, a schedule setting out the completion dates of parts of his work for stage III. Significantly, Hughes withheld permission for the construction of plywood prototypes for the interiors (Utzon was at this time working closely with Ralph Symonds, an inventive and progressive manufacturer of plywood, based in Sydney). This eventually forced Utzon to leave the project on February 28, 1966. He said that Hughes’ refusal to pay Utzon any fees and the lack of collaboration caused his resignation, and later famously described the situation as “Malice in Blunderland”. In March 1966, Hughes offered him a reduced role as ‘design architect’, under a panel of executive architects, without any supervisory powers over the House’s construction but Utzon rejected this.

The cost of the project, even in October of that year, was still only $22.9 million, less than a quarter of the final cost.

Construction after Utzon

The second stage of construction was still in process when Utzon was forced to resign. His position was principally taken over by Peter Hall, who became largely responsible for the interior design. Other persons appointed that same year to replace Utzon were E.H. Farmer as government architect, D.S. Littlemore and Lionel Todd.

The four significant changes to the design after Utzon left were:
The cladding to the podium and the paving (the podium was originally not to be clad down to the water, but left open. Also the paving chosen was different from what Utzon would have chosen)
The construction of the glass walls (Utzon was planning to use a system of prefabricated plywood mullions, and although eventually a quite inventive system was created to deal with the glass, it is different from Utzon’s design) (more…)