Observations on Sydney Harbour

 

Sydney is blessed with a fine harbour. Prior to the advent of container ships, it was very much a working harbour, freight and passengers delivered into the heart of the city. Many Sydneysiders are transported to work each day by ferry, arriving at Circular Quay with a short walk, light or heavy rail connection to their place of work. Thousands of migrants arrived from (mainly) Europe at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, which is on the western flank of the Quay. These days, it is the cruise ships  that use the terminal, almost daily from October to May each year (pandemics not withstanding, of course!). They tend to dwarf the ferries and historic buildings.

Circular Quay on a quiet day
‘Carnival Splendor’ towers over historic Cadmans Cottage
Circular Quay and ‘Carnival Splendor’
‘Grand Princess’ stands proud at the Terminal

Small boys, and many not so young, enjoy the spectacle of these floating apartment blocks manoeuvring, or being manoeuvred by tugs, avoiding collision with the harbour traffic.

‘Carnival Splendor’ departing, a tall ship ‘Søren Larsen’ at rest
‘Majestic Princess leaves at dusk
‘Carnival Splendor’ is manoeuvred by tugs

….. or maybe just relax on the grass and enjoy the view!

 

Pottering around in “Old Sydney Town”

“Old Sydney” is a misnomer in so far as it refers to the establishment of the British Colony in 1788, rather than to our indigenous population who cared for the land for 60,000 years. The first fleet of eleven ships set up camp at Sydney Cove, now known as Circular Quay, with its passenger shipping and ferry terminals – more on that another time.

Care is being taken to preserve much of this area, and calling it “The Rocks” needs little imagination! Recent excavations don’t go deep (as some in Europe do) because of the sandstone base that provided foundations for buildings. Cadmans Cottage, built 1816, is one of few buildings that remains of the first 30 years of the colony. Every window on one side of a now 4 star hotel, bears an interesting statement.

Signage helps us to understand
Recent site – truly built on rock!
Cadmans Cottage
Preservation acknowledged
‘Old’ and ‘new’ coexist
Modern Sydney towers over First Fleet Park
The ‘coathanger’ as a backdrop
Lighting the natural rock

Every weekend, The Rocks Market swings into action. All the usual market suspects – art, jewellery, leather goods, fabrics, souvenirs and more, as well as an assortment of food items. Come Monday morning, the street shows no evidence of the flurry of activity.

The Rocks Market, George Street

An entry in Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

Autumn brings flowers: Exotic and Indigenous

Autumn in Sydney brings the first blooms on exotic Sasanqua Camellias, bursts of flowers from red to white with all shades of pink in between. Their show will last for months. At the same time, Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ is putting on a show. Unlike the camellias, the blooms stay on the bush and go through evolution over a year.

Sasanqua Camellia (name unknown)
Sasanqua Camellia (name unknown)
Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’
Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’
A post for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday