Sydney Archives - Page 14 of 42 - Destination's Journey

28 February 202311 February 2023

Statues Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Statues of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Besides plants and trees, the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney contains many varied and interesting statues. Many are from the early days of the garden when statues formed a major part of its display. Unfortunately removed in large numbers as the gardens developed, many still remain adding to the beauty of the area.

Located on Sydney Harbour in the centre of the city, the gardens are a great place to relax, either looking at the wonderful floral surrounds or watching the boat traffic on the water.

Horses of the Desert Mounted Corps

Located on the Botanic Garden’s exterior, this bronze plaque of an Australian light horseman and three horses commemorates the 140,000 horses sent to serve in the desert campaign in World War One. Only one came home to Australia, which is very sad.

Morshead Fountain

The Morshead Fountain sits outside the Morshead Fountain Gate entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens on Shakespeare Place. Lieutenant-General Sir Lesley Morshead was knighted for his defence of Tobruk in World War II. This fountain honours him and the men who served with him.

Cupid

This small bronze statue of cupid on a marble plinth holding a bow and arrow is the work of sculptor Paul R Montford (1868-1938). Cupid marks the exact spot of where the center dome of the Garden Palace once stood.

Governor Phillip Fountain

Commemorating Captain Arthur Phillip (1738-1814) the first Governor of New South Wales from 1788 to 1792, this marble and bronze fountain was first unveiled in 1997. Below the statue are three bas reliefs illustrating education, justice and patriotism. Encircling these are four reclining sculptures representing agriculture, commerce, mining and shipping. Bronze bas reliefs illustrate Aboriginal hunting techniques.

Huntsman and Dogs

Cast by the Val d’Osne Company around 1879 the Huntsman and Dogs statue is a copy of a sculpture by French sculptor Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart. Located on the path next to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the sculpture of the Huntsman and Dogs is an “imitation” bronze. Created by using electrolysis to deposit copper on a cast iron casting, immitation bronze is a cheap way to crate a bronze statue.

The Four Seasons Statues

Located at the top and bottom of a stairway, the four seasons are represented by three young women, while an old man represents winter.

Statues of the Seasons Statues Royal Botanic Garden Sydney — The Four Seasons Statues in the Royal Botanic Garden

Linda di Chamonix Statues in the Royal Botanic Garden

These two Victorian style marble statues, Linda di Chamonix and the Sweeb Boy are based on a characters from the Donizetti opera ‘Linda di Chamonix’, written in 1842.

Linda da Chamonix Statues Royal Botanic Garden Sydney — Linda da Chamonix

Statue of Savoyard Sweeb Boy Statues Royal Botanic Garden Sydney — Linda da Chamonix

The Boxers

Placed in the Botanic gardens in the 1880s these marble statues are copies from the original boxers statues, “Creugas and Damoxenus” by Italian sculptor, Antonio Canova (1757-1822).

Lewis Wolfe Levy Fountain

Commemorating Lewis Wolfe Levy (1815–85), a politician and businessman, this fountain has an Art Nouveau bronze statue of a young girl standing amid reeds, a heron and frogs. The fountain was a gift to the people of Sydney in 1889 from the Levy family.

Living Floral Sculptures

Scattered throughout the Botanic Garden living sculptures of animals which brighten up the garden beds. There are whales, bees, koalas and echidnas.

The Herb Garden

The Satyr

Sculpted by Guy Lynch in 1924, The Satyr is a bronze casting of the original (by the same artist) commissioned by his wife after is death. The sculpture was modelled on the sculptor’s younger brother and a local goat.

Vista Pavilion

Folly For Mrs Macquarie

Slit Drum from Vanuatu

Sumo Wrestlers

Lions’ Gate

This male and female lion guard the entrance to the Lions’ Gate Lodge in the Botanic Gardens.

Venus ‘Italica’

This marble statue is a replica of the Venus ‘Italica’. The naked Venus is clutching a flowing sheet around her body.

La Ballerina

This copy of a famous statue by the Venetian sculptor Antonio Canova, La Ballarina arrived from Italy in 1883, when the gardens were home to as many sculptures as trees. Following a spell in the sculpture graveyard in the 1970s, La Ballerina underwent restoration and is again on display.

Magnolia

Boy Extracting Thorn

This marble copy of the famous ‘Fidele’ (faithful) statue was imported into Australia from Italy, in 1883.

Mare and Foal

These bronze statues of a Mare, named La Reyna, and her foal overlook the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. On the base are reliefs depicting training and racing scenes. Sculpted by French Sculptor, Arthur Jacques Le Duc, it was purchased in 1891.

Choragic Monument

This carved yellowblock sandstone is a copy of the circular Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens. The monument features carved scenes depicting episodes from the myth of Dionysus as well as six Corinthian columns. Originally erected at Sir James Martin ( Premier of New South Wales ) home at Macleay Street, Potts Point in 1870, the Choragic Monument was moved to the Royal Botanic Gardens on the 16th November, 1943.

Bara

Venus Fountain

Although removed from display in 1990 this bronze statue of Venus was later reinstalled in 1994. However corrosion to the statue meant it needed replacement. Originally the base featured rocks and large clam shells but they were later replaced by a sculpted crocodile. It now features two cherubs riding dolphins.

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair

Carved out of a sandstone rock ledge by convicts in 1810 Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is one of the best vantage points to view the sights of Sydney Harbour. Governor Macquarie commissioned it for his wife Elizabeth who was known to love the area.

2nd / 30th Infantry Battalion Memorial

This memorial is a tribute to the men of the 2/30 Battalion AIF who departed for the First World War from docks near here.

Barrel Roll

Sculpted by Peter Lundberg, Barrel Roll, formed part of Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2012. Gifted to the Royal Botanic Gardens by the Balnaves Foundationit it now sits in the median strip of Mrs Macquarie’s Road.

Paradiegma Metaphysic

Sculpted by Paul Selwood, paradiegma metaphysic was originally displayed at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2011. Gifted to the Royal Botanic Gardens by the Balnaves Foundation it now sits in the median strip of Mrs Macquarie’s Road.

Henry Lawson Memorial

Commissioned in February 1860 by the Henry Lawson Memorial And Literary Society, this monument commemorates Australian poet, Henry Lawson. Often called Australia’s greatest writer, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period. The bronze bust of Lawson is 1.5 times life size.

In February each year near the statue, a gathering celebrates Henry Lawson’s life with renditions of his works, performances by singers and other poetry and prose.

Memory is Creation Without End

Memory is Creation Without End consists of a massive spiral of sandstone blocks embedded into the earth of the Tarpeian Way, adjacent to Macquarie Street. Artist Kimio Tsuchiya has incorporated these relics from demolished buildings and structures such as the Pyrmont Bridge.

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

21 February 202310 February 2023

Art Gallery of NSW North Building

Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami

Art Gallery of NSW North Building

The Art Gallery of NSW new North Building displays contemporary art, with an emphasis on Indigenous Australian art. The building reflects this with bright well lit rooms and colourful displays. A highlight is the use of its basement, an old storage tank as a display space.

Getting There

Located, to the north of the original Art Gallery (now the South Building), it’s walkable from the Sydney CBD. We used the train from Central Station, getting off at St. James and walking, although buses can also be used. If you drive, the Domain carpark would be the closest option.

Arriving before opening time, we took some photos of the giant sculptures outside and then had a coffee at the café opposite the entrance.

Inside

With four levels, there is plenty of space to display artworks. The ground floor has an amazing display of Indigenous art and its great that this is the first gallery you see on entering. Previously displayed at the South Building the collection now has pride of place at the entrance.

The next two levels down display a series of contemporary art in addition to having access to outside galleries. Here we found an amazing flower sculpture, as well as a Buddhist Temple.

Lower Level 4 – The Tank

The highlight though was The Tank. Level 4 used to be an underground oil storage tank, but has been repurposed as an art space. Access is via a spiral staircase, which you descend into increasing darkness. Left deliberately dark, with the original columns still in place, it’s eerie, with lights moving on the ceiling, slowly brightening and dimming to highlight the sculptures there.

Before entering, you are warned that the area is dark and claustrophobic, so that you know what to expect. Numerous staff patrol the space, ensuring everyone obeys the rules (no flash photos) and remains safe.

We loved it, the sculptures were unworldly and the empty spaces and columns eerie.

Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard Art Gallery of NSW North Building — Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard

Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

14 February 202310 February 2023

Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building

Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

Originally Sydney’s Post Office (GPO), this beautiful building has been repurposed into the Fullerton Hotel. Completed in 1891 after 25 years of construction, it served as the GPO until 1996 when the main post office relocated. Instead, Australia Post operate a smaller Postal Shop from the George Street end of the building. At this time, a refurbishment of the building took place. This entailed enclosing the courtyard into an atrium and turning the remaining building into retail shops and offices. With its prominent position on the corner of George St. and Martin Place, it’s a beautiful building and easy to find.

Tour of the GPO

Our tour of the Old-GPO took us through the building, while learning about its history. Originally designed by James Barnett, the building was later expanded as postal services grew. If you look at the exterior photo, you will see that the lower two floors have arched windows, while the upper floor’s are round. Apparently Barnett thought that the later architect ruined his design by not continuing with the arches on the upper floor.

We were able to climb the interior spiral staircase to the upper floors, but access to the clock tower is restricted. This is because the stairs are no longer safe for visitors and are in need of repair. We did see the smaller George Street clock from the round windows on the third floor. From here you are able to see the clocks mechanical workings.

The old GPO courtyard is now covered, forming an atrium where natural light streams in from the glass ceiling. This is a great sight, even from ground floor, but is much better on the access bridge from the third floor. From here you are able to look down onto what was once a bustling courtyard, but is now a relaxed open space.

Even if you do not enter the building the exterior is worth looking at because of it’s carvings and colonnade. At 114m long, it’s still one of the largest sandstone buildings in Sydney.

What Did We Think?

This was an interesting and informative tour, accessing areas usually off limits. We especially liked the atrium and internal staircase as well as the colonial sandstone architecture.