The Paddington Reservoir Gardens are a hidden gem in the middle of Sydney. You will find them next to the Paddington Town Hall on Oxford Street. Well sign posted they are difficult to miss. We caught the number 440 bus from Central Station and got off near Town Hall, making it an easy trip.
Previously a major water reservoir for the area they fell into disrepair after being superseded. With the roof now mostly gone the interior and support columns are visible, providing a unique setting. With the previously underground reservoir now exposed, it has been turned into an amazing sunken garden. Stairs and walkways provide access to the lower section.
Wandering around the lower section is surreal, because of the structures surrounding you. The archways appear to be from an ancient ruin overgrown by the gardens. Cleverly designed modern stairways and viewing platforms blend in with the older construction.
Looking Down From the Street
Paddington Reservoir Gardens
Columns and Archways
Columns and Archways
The Gardens
The Gardens
Columns and Archways
Looking Down From the Street
What Did We Think?
A fantastic spot to visit and something different to the usual garden and attractions. Very peaceful with a surreal atmosphere in the centre of the city.
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The Small Arms Factory in Lithgow is a reminder of Australia’s industrial past when the country was self reliant and able to produce its small armaments. Now disused the factory is merely an empty shell, although Thales still operate part of the site. However the old administration building is now a museum displaying items once manufactured there. In addition it displays over 800 handguns in the Hayes Gallery, which is one of the best in the country, housing some rare and unique items.
Parking
Parking is off street in the old employee car park, which provides plenty of space. Entry is via the main doors back on the street, just follow the signs. Once inside, pay the entrance fee to the attendant who will then give you a brief overview of the museum.
The Small Arms Factory Displays
The first room displays some of the non military items manufactured when the demand for guns was low. These ranged from sewing machines, sheep shearing handsets and hand cuffs to medical implants . This leads into some of the larger projects including track shoes for the Leopard tank and M113.
Handcuffs
Sewing Machine
The second floor houses the gun collection with contains a comprehensive display of machine guns, rifles and handguns. Several uniquely Australian items are on display including prototypes and pre-production guns.
Taisho Type 14 Nambu
Machine Guns
Bren Light Machine Gun
Rifles on Display
Double Barrel Percussion Pistol by Deanne’s of London
The exit through the gift shop, where there is an opportunity to purchase die cast guns, mugs, beer coolers and other souvenirs.
Rifle Display
What Did We Think?
Whilst small, it is certainly a great piece of Australian military and industrial history worth seeing when in Lithgow. Another part of Lithgow military heritage is at the Bowenfels gun emplacements which were built to defend the Small Arms Factory.
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Middle
Head on Sydney Harbour houses the remains of Sydney’s original fortifications.
Designed to repel an invasion from the sea, these huge concrete structures no
longer have their guns, but remain as a reminder of times when Australia
thought it was going to be invaded.
The Royal Australian Navy still has a presence in the area with HMAS Penguin still an active naval base. The car park for Middle Head is near the base. There is a fee for parking here and ticket machines are located in the car park.
Several of the old administration buildings are still in use and you walk past them on your way to the gun emplacements. The concrete structures are extensive, and you are free to walk around, through and over them. We explored them for a while and then admired the views over the harbour and towards North Head and South Head with Hornby Lighthouse.
Fortifications
Fortifications
View to North Head Across the Harbour
View to South Head Across the Harbour
There is a small display of cannon carriages, but this is in need of signage and maintenance to give context to the display. Likewise, the tiger cages constructed in the area require an explanation to make them relevant.
Tiger Cage
There are no food and drink outlets on the site, but we took our own and had a great view over the harbour while we ate.
Beehive Casements
Situated
on Middle Head and maintained by National Parks and Wildlife, this old fortress
can only be accessed by a guided tour. Details of the dates and costs can be
found on NPWS website.
To get
there, you drive through leafy Mossman and pass many lovely houses. Parking in
the area is limited, so either arrive early, or walk from one of the larger car
parks. Warning signs along the road show that parking in a non designated area
will incur a $300 fine.
Beehive Casements Tour
The guide
met us at the beehive casements where he gave an overview of their history and
significance to Sydney. We then walked down stairs to the interior of the fort.
The stairs can be slippery so take care. Once inside, you can see the extent of
the excavations needed to build them. The passageways are often wet, because
the sandstone they were built with is porous and water constantly sleeps
through.
Embrasures
facing Sydney Harbour provide a magnificent view and show why the forts were
built here as they have a commanding view of any ships attempting to enter the
harbour.
The shape
of the interior provides the name of the casements, as they look like a conical
beehives. The remains of several old cannons lie on the rock floors, but have
unfortunately been burnt by vandals in the past. Some other remnants like racks
for tools and coat racks still line the walls but have become rotted or rusty,
providing some interesting photographic opportunities.
Upper Works of the Beehive Casements
Beehive Casements Tunnel
Beehive Casements Interior
Stairs Down to Lower Level
Burnt Cannon Carriage
Burnt Cannon Carriage
For
another perspective of the beehive casements, look for them when taking the
Manly ferry. They can be found low down on the waterline of the cliffs. Looking
carefully the three gun embrasures are visible.
Beehive Casements From Sydney Harbour
A great place to visit and see Sydney’s early history as well as fantastic views over the harbour. For more early fortifications and military history, visit nearby Bradleys Head and the HMAS Sydney (I) mast and Royal Australian Navy memorials.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
