Sitting on the waterfront at Circular Quay, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia provides a venue for international and local artists.
Getting There
In walking distance of Circular Quay, public transport is the easiest way to get here. Ferries, buses, trains and light rail all stop here, making it easy and convenient. Several carparks are located nearby if you want to drive.
The Museum
Near the entrance a metallic sculpture provides some great photo opportunities, because its design allowing unique views of the Opera House.
During our visit one gallery was dedicated to David Malangi Daymirringu’s aboriginal artwork. They follow important sites, ceremonies, and stories that encompass ancestral knowledge connected to the artist’s Manharrngu clan of central Arnhem Land. Some of the photos below show his amazing work.
As expected the remaining art on display ranged from weird and unique to strangely interesting. A fun place to walk around, especially if you want to see what current artist are producing.
A cafeteria on the roof gives great views of Sydney Harbour as well as Circular Quay. We sat here for a while enjoying morning tea and watching the ferries going in and out of the Quay.
What Did We Think?
This was an interesting visit. The highlight was the indigenous artwork on display, which looked amazing. It was nice to see that the museum takes great pride in its support of aboriginal and Torres Strait artists. Open everyday except Mondays.
Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art with the Opera House
Outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art
David Malangi Daymirringu
By Indigenous Artist David Malangi Daymirringu
David Malangi Daymirringu
Kate Just Anonymous is a Woman
Robert MacPherson Tree Rain:16 Frog Poems (Yellow Monday) for J.C., 1990
Anna Kwasner
Judith Wright Nature/Nurture
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Established in the early 1900s for the NSW Cement, Lime and Coal Co Ltd, Kandos produced cement until the plant’s closure in 2011. Taken from the initials of the founding company directors: Campbell, Angus, Noyes, McDonald, Oakden and Stephen. The first letter was later changed to a K rather than a C at the insistence of the Postmaster General. He thought it was too close to Chandos in South Australia.
Cement produced here was used all over New South Wales, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the Central to St James underground railway, leading to the town branding itself “The Town That Built Sydney”.
Located 234 km north-west of Sydney, for a three and a quarter hour trip, or a 64 km, one-hour trip south-east of Mudgee, Kandos is a great place to visit. Not only does the town offer interesting things to do, but nearby is Dunns Swamp in Wollemi National Park.
On entering town, an old railway wagon proudly displays a load of Kandos Cement, making you aware of the town’s heritage.
Some interesting sights include the old railway station and nearby hotel, along with some interesting sculptures nearby. We also found an old underground loading unit sitting on the side of a road near the museum, which was an interesting discovery.
Cement Wagon
Old Rail Wagons
Kandos Town Sign
The Railway Station
Train Sculpture at a the Railway Station
Sculpture at the Railway Station
St Laurence’s Anglican Church
Railway Hotel
Underground Loader
Kandos Museum
Specialising in Kandos and the surrounding towns, the museum has a wonderful collection of historical items. A large section is dedicated to the cement works and their impact on the town.
Outside displays provide access to several large displays of cement works equipment, including skips from the aerial ropeway that brought limestone from the quarry to the cement works.
The volunteer staff were exceptional, full of local knowledge and more than happy to answer our questions. They really made the visit even more enjoyable.
Kandos Museum
Kandos Cement Works
Walking inside the museum’s entrance, you are greeting by the immaculate 1930 Nash Ambulance. This vehicle is surrounded by cement works artefacts, detailing the workings of the factory that kept Kandos ticking for nearly 100 years.
Kandos Cement Works 1930 Nash Ambulance
The Old Safety Sign
Gauges From the Cement Factory
The Many Used for an Old Cement Bag
Local History
The local history of Kandos and surrounding villages makes up a large display in a second room, detailing local life.
Local Towns and Villages Sign at the Museum
Gas Powered Fridge
Gramophone Collection
Gas Light
Old Telephones and Cinema Sign
Main Museum Display Room
Old Farm Tools
Outside Displays
Large pieces of equipment displayed outside the museum include part of the aerial ropeway, steam engines and crushers provide a glimpse of the limestone quarry’s operation.
Old Equipment at the Museum
Mill From the Cement Factory
Aerial Ropeway Skip
What Did We Think?
Kandos is a great town to visit, with a lot of history crammed into 100 years, as well as the wonderful Wollemi National Park to visit close by.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the Orana Region of central New South Wales, Nyngan is the home of the Big Bogan, a helicopter memorial and several interesting museums. This was our second stop on a road trip out west and our first overnight stop.
Like many outback towns. there is a nice sign welcoming you to town, along with a rest stop. Here, you will find a “small” Big Bogan, but don’t be put off by its size, because the real one is in the town centre.
Driving around town we noticed some street art, as well as some nice buildings, especially the town hall.
Welcome To Nyngan
Old Level Crossing Gates at the Heritage Garden
Centenary Fountain
Nyngan Town Hall
Street Art at the Museum Car Park
Street Art at the Museum Car Park
Nyngan Main Street at Night
Nyngan Museum
Our first stop was at the Railway Station which is now the town museum and also acts as a tourist information centre. Passenger trains no longer stop here, although the line is still used for freight, so the platform is blocked off to stop people wandering onto the tracks.
The museum’s displays cover all of Nyngan’s history, from pre-colonial to recent, including World War One and railway heritage.
View of the Nyngan Museum From the Rail Overpass
Nyngan Museum Railway Platform
Old Waiting Room at the Railway Station
Old Switch Board
Kitchen Display
Old Kitchen Display
World War One Honour Roll
Wilcox and Gibbs 1871 Sewing Machine
Shearing Shed
Located across the rail line from the museum, the Shearing Shed captures the history of the wool industry that once dominated Australia. The original pulleys that powered the shears are still in place, making a great and authentic backdrop to the museum. Covering the walls are photos of past shearers, competition winners and champion sheep. We found this all very interesting, even more so when the volunteer working there turned out to be an old shearer. He told us all about life as a shearer and what the items on display were used for.
Railway Overpass Connecting to the Museum
Entrance to the Shearing Shed
The Displays
The Old Kitchen
Old Shearing Machinery
Photos of the Shearing Industry
Inside the Shed
Shearing
A photo on the wall shows how the shed used to look when operating. Many others showed champion sheep like Gothic and Dudley from Mullengudgery Stud.
How the Shearing Shed Used to Look
Champion Sheep Gothic From Mullengudgery Stud
Champion Sheep Dudley From Mullengudgery Stud
Helicopter Flood Memorial
A stunning sight in the middle of town is a helicopter displayed on a pole Not something you expect to see on the main street, but relevant to Nyngan, because of the role they played during a flood.
In April 1990, unusually heavy rains caused major flooding in the town, despite a massive effort by local people to raise the levee walls using sandbags. With the town almost completely flooded, all the residents had to be evacuated by helicopter from the railway station, the highest point of the town, which was not flooded. Air Force helicopters, TV news helicopters and private helicopters all co-operated in the airlift.
Bell UH-1 Iroquois Helicopter
Nyngan Coach House
Sitting next to the Big Bogan, the Coach House is hard to miss. A large car park makes access easy, so you don’t have to park on the street. The two coaches on display are under cover but behind wire mesh. This doesn’t restrict viewing, because the mesh is wide spaced and allows the carriages to be seen from three sides.
Make sure you plan to see them before 5:00PM, because the roller doors are shut and locked to protect the displays overnight.
Cob & Co. Royal Mail Stage Coach
Cob & Co. Royal Mail Stage Coach
Rear of the Cob & Co. Royal Mail Stage Coach
Cob & Co. Royal Mail Stage Coach
Wagon at the Nyngan Coach House
The Big Bogan
Adjacent to the Coach House, the Big Bogan is another “Big” thing we came across during this trip. Another one to cross of the list if you’re into seeing them all. For those who don’t know, a bogan is a derogatory word for an uncouth, unsophisticated person (like the American ‘trailer trash’).
The local shire council (The Bogan Shire) has made the most of having their name used this way and used it to attract tourists with the Big Bogan.
The Big Bogan
Early Settler Memorial
On the edge of town, a memorial pays tribute to the early European settlers in the area, who established the agricultural industry. It features a grazier, with his sheep dog and a flock of sheep.
Early Settler Memorial
Early Settler Memorial
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
