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Sculpture Walk Batemans Bay

Tides by Joel Adler Batemans Bay Sculpture Walk

Sculpture Walk Batemans Bay

Running along the Clyde River foreshore at Batemans Bay, The Sculpture Walk is a great way to take in the city centre of this NSW south coast town.

Getting There

Driving from Sydney will take a little over 3.5 hours, or two hours from Canberra. We were staying locally, so only had a 10-minute drive from our accommodation. We parked at the Clyde Street carpark, which is conveniently located at the start of the walk.

The Walk

Following the waterfront from the Princes Highway Bridge to the marina, the Sculpture Walk takes in 14 sculptures (the number grows each year) as well as passing street art and memorials. Sculptures are added each time the Sculptures For Clyde festival is held, as the winning sculpture is acquired and permanently displayed in Batemans Bay.

The walk is flat and paved most of the way with many places to stop, rest and take in the scenery. Coffee shops and restaurants on the waterfront also provide plenty of options for eating.

The Clyde River

The walk takes you along the Clyde River, where you see several cruise boats waiting to take tourists up the river. There are also some fishing boats as well as restaurants that sell their catch. Many waterbirds also make the riverbank their home and we saw a lot of pelicans resting on the bank and jetties.

River Cruise Boat
River Cruise Boat

Memorials

Walking along the sculpture walk, two memorials stand out. The first is Batemans Bay War Memorial Cenotaph while the second, dedicated to the Vietnam War is in the park near the marina.

Street Art

Street art can be found in several locations on the walk. The first and most obvious is on the Boatshed seafood restaurant. This has both ends of the building decorated with paintings of the area’s culture and history.

The second area if found in Graffiti Alley, which runs between Orient St and Murra Murra Mia Walkway. Here, you will find fantastic paintings of local wildlife.

Sydney Sculpture Exhibition Walsh Bay

Of Milk and Honey by Clancy Walker Sydney Sculpture Exhibition – Walsh Bay

Sydney Sculpture Exhibition – Walsh Bay

Walking through Walsh Bay, we found the Sydney Sculpture Exhibition set among the redeveloped bond stores and wharves. We visited in August 2024, and they should be on display until November 2024, although some appear to be permanent displays.

We walked from Circular Quay which took around 20 minutes, although we did stop several times to take photos.

While you’re here there are some excellent eateries for a snack, refreshment of meal.

Old Parliament House Canberra

Old Parliament House Canberra

Old Parliament House Canberra

Only intended as a temporary home for the Australian Parliament, Old Parliament House in Canberra actually operated as the seat of government from 1928 until 1988. At this time the government move to the new Parliament House on Capital Hill.

It now houses the Museum of Australian Democracy as well as other temporary exhibitions.

Getting There

Car parking is available on King George Terrace as well as in its own car park.

History

Once the independent Australian colonies joined together to form the Commonwealth of Australia, the Australian Capital Territory was established for the development of the new Capital Canberra. With Federation occurring in 1901, it took until 1928 for the Provisional Parliament House to be built. Until this time, Parliament met in Melbourne.

Outside the building are statues of two women: Dame Dorothy Tagney and Dame Enid Lyons. Dorothy Tagney was the first female Australian senator, while Enid Lyons was the first female in the House of Representatives. Both were elected in 1943.

At the front of the building is a large statue of King George V, the reigning monarch when Australia achieved independence. Another statue of the King is located in the main entrance hall.

The House of Representatives

To reflect the inheritance of the Westminster System, the House of Representatives is predominantly green, with the carpet and chairs this colour. The Speaker Seat is a copy of the one in The House of Commons presented to Australia by Empire Parliamentary Association in 1926. Interestingly, the original seat in London was destroyed in an air raid during the Second World War. The one used now is a copy of the Australian copy, gifted to the House of Commons by the Australian Parliament.

Visitors are free to walk around the chamber and view the area as the politicians used to.

Prime Ministers Office

Considering the importance of the office, it is remarkably small with small desk and meeting area.

Speaker of the House Office

Being almost as large as the Prime Minister’s office shows the importance of the Speaker in the running of Parliament.

The Senate

Predominantly red in colour to reflect its association with the British House of Lords, the Senate Chamber is far less crowded than the House of Representatives. Each senator had their own desk. This was because there were only half the number of senators in the same sized room.

President of the Senate

Special Exhibitions

A replica set of the British Crown Jewels are on display during our visit. Excellent copies of the originals, great to see and certainly easier to visit than going to London.

What Did We Think?

A great place to learn about how Australian democracy works. Not only an interesting old building with its own importance, but a showcase of how the Westminster style of government operates.

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