Currently located at 264 George Street Sydney (September 2023), this Gillie and Marc bronze sculpture of Rabbitwoman and Dogman is titled “Together they were a golden couple”. The artists description on the statue is “Rabbitwoman takes the lead on the bike while Dogman gets cosy in the sidecar next to her, trusting her to take him somewhere incredible”.
Gillie and Marc are known for their inclusion of Rabbitwoman, Dogman, coffee cups and the Vespa. This bronze has all of them in one place.
We found the statue on a quiet Sunday morning while walking down George St in Sydney. As with many things, it’s often the unexpected that makes your day. So, if you’re walking through Sydney, drop in to say hi to Rabbitwoman and Dogman on George St. And if you are interested in where they got their coffee, there is a small café behind them.
Located on Bridge St, not far from Circular Quay, the Museum of Sydney focuses on the history of the city with an emphasis on the impact white settlement had and still has on Aboriginal People.
Bust of Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet and the First Governor of Australia
Getting There
As with many attractions in Sydney, public transport is the easiest and cheapest way to travel. We caught the Light Rail from Central Station, getting off the Bridge Street stop. From here, it was an easy 5-minute walk to the museum.
Entry
Entry was free with staff only requesting a post code to see where visitors were from.
Exhibits
Edge of Trees
Located in the museum’s forecourt, these 29 pillars represent 29 clans from the Sydney area.
Edge of Trees
The First Fleet
The first display we saw was a series of scale models of the first fleet. This impressive display had each ship represented along with a short description and history. Many of the names of these ships are commemorated in Royal Australian Navy ships and Sydney Harbour ferries.
Model ships of the First FleetHMS Sirius Flagship of the First Fleet
Government House
A model of the original Government House shows how the site appeared in the 1780s. This building was the centre of colonial administration for 57 years until replaced by the new Government House.
Located in the museum’s forecourt on Bridge Street, a glass-fronted display provides a view of subterranean remains of the first Government House. Inside the museum, near the gift shop, additional glass panels in the floor provide glimpses of archaeological remains, including foundations and drains.
Model of the First Government HouseModel of the First Government House
Special Exhibition: The Sydney Opera House
The top floor of the Museum houses rotating displays, often with an aboriginal theme. During our visit, the Sydney Opera House’ 50th anniversary was being celebrated. As a result, there was a large exhibition detailing its history.
This exhibit only runs until 12 November 2023, when it will be replaced by a new series of displays.
Lego Model of the Opera HouseWoven Model of the Opera HousePosters of shows held at the Sydney Opera HouseCostume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland in Lucrezia Borgia
Opened in 1926, Museum Station was part of the Bradfield Plan. Designed by chief engineer John Bradfield, the plan incorporated the Sydney Harbour Bridge an underground city railway network and Central Station. Bradfield also planned the electrification of the suburban Sydney rail network. Although only partially implemented, his plan forms the basis for today’s Sydney rail network.
Museum Station was built to extend the railway line into the city centre and provide access to Hyde Park and the Australian Museum. It was originally named Hyde Park, but renamed in 1927 to avoid confusion with Hyde Park Corner station in London (very odd considering they are on different sides of the planet). The station signage is similar to the roundel design used in the London underground. Only St James Station has similar signage in Sydney.
Museum Station was one of the first City Circle stations to open, along with St James Station. The City Circle is a loop line that connects the main railway stations in the central business district, such as Central, Town Hall, Wynyard and Circular Quay. Completed in 1956 with the opening of Circular Quay Station the City Circle provides a reliable and easy way to travel around the Sydney central business district.
Also of interest is the retention of the period advertisements on the stations walls, which along with the extensive use of wall tiling and metal stair railings retain the style of the 1920s.