Running from 16 September to 15 October 2023 in Canberra Australia, the annual Floriade flower show is the country’s largest celebration of spring. This year over one million blooms put on an amazing display of colour.
We walked around the displays on the first day they were open, lucky enough to have arranged time off to be in Canberra for the event. Photos do not do justice to the displays or the effort that has gone into preparing them because of the size and diversity of the garden beds.
Beds of red tulipsYellow tulipGarden bed of tulips and other flowersLarge garden bed of tulips and other flowersLarge garden bed of tulips and other flowersPink TulipGarden bed of multi-coloured tulipsRed Tulip
Opened on 21st September 1893 what is now Rivendell School was originally the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital. Built from money from Walker’s will, the hospital treated over 70,000 patients convalesced at the hospital, including servicemen from the 1914-18 and 1939-45 World Wars. In 1977, the hospital was transformed into a specialized educational institution for students with mental health concerns and was renamed Rivendell School. The name reflects Rivendell From J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit as a place to rest and recuperate – a sanctuary for those on difficult journeys.
Designed by John Sulman the brick and sandstone buildings are of the Federation Free Classical style and were.
Current Use
Located in West Concord on Sydney’s Parramatta River, Rivendell School is a specialized educational facility located in Sydney, Australia. It caters to students who have mental health concerns or psychiatric conditions, providing a supportive and comprehensive learning environment. The school focuses on fostering wellness, resilience, and academic achievement for its students. With a team of dedicated professionals, Rivendell School offers tailored programs to meet the unique needs of each student, ensuring they receive the necessary support to thrive academically and personally.
Getting To Rivendell School
We travelled by train to Rhodes Train Station and then walked to the school. On the way we looked at the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway and the Brays Bay Ship-Building Memorial. Bus 410 runs from the station to near the school, so you can take this instead. If travelling by car, parking is difficult to find because of the other hospitals in the area. The best option would be to park in the Kokoda Parking area.
The Grounds and Buildings
Walking around the landscaped grounds, is very relaxing as you would expect from the building’s original purpose. Make sure to look at the inside of the entrance gate as there are many sandstone carvings on the walls. The sandstone carvings are perfectly preserved, with the columns on the upper balcony of the main building looking magnificent.
Directly opposite the main entrance, on the Parramatta River, an old water gate was the preferred entrance when the school was used as a hospital. Although this is no longer in use. This is a great building in its own right and unique in Australia.
Rivendell School Entrance GateLandscaped entry drivewayStone carving above the front entranceStone carving inside the front entranceCarving on the entranceThe main buildingFront door entranceSandstone carving around the clockCaryatid columns on the upper balconyWalkway to the disused ferry wharfDisused ferry wharf
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.
Monument To The Horses Of The Desert Mounted Corps
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.
Morshead Fountain
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.
Cupid Statue
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.
Governor Phillip Fountain
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.
Huntsman and Dogs
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.
The Four Seasons Statues in the Royal Botanic GardenSpring holds fresh cut roses as a symbol of the beginning of the yearly cycleWinter is an Old Man He is holding a dead bird and pine cones which represent the end of the yearly cycle of lifeAutumn is a young woman holding grapes and a goblet of wineSummer carries a scythe as well as a sheaf of fresh cut lilies
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 ChamonixStatue of Savoyard Sweeb Boy
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).
Second of the Boxers statuesThe BoxersThe Boxers Statues in the Royal Botanic Garden
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.
Lewis Wolfe Levy Fountain
Lewis Wolfe Levy Fountain
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.
BeeGiant Floral BeeEchidna and AntsGiant Floral KoalaWhale Sculpture
The Herb Garden
Sandstone Pavilion above the Herb GardenCompass in 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.
The Satyr 1924 by Frank “Guy” Lynch
Vista Pavilion
Vista Pavilion
Folly For Mrs Macquarie
Folly For Mrs Macquarie
Slit Drum from Vanuatu
Slit Drum from Vanuatu
Sumo Wrestlers
Sumo Wrestlers
Lions’ Gate
This male and female lion guard the entrance to the Lions’ Gate Lodge in the Botanic Gardens.
Lions’ GateLions’ Gate
Venus ‘Italica’
This marble statue is a replica of the Venus ‘Italica’. The naked Venus is clutching a flowing sheet around her body.
Venus Italica
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.
La Ballerina
Magnolia
Magnolia
Boy Extracting Thorn
This marble copy of the famous ‘Fidele’ (faithful) statue was imported into Australia from Italy, in 1883.
Boy Extracting Thorn
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.
Mare and Foal
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.
Choragic Monument
Bara
bara by Aboriginal artist Judy Watson
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.
Venus Fountain with a Cormorant sitting on her head
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.
Mrs Macquarie’s Chair
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.
2nd / 30th Infantry Battalion Memorial
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.
Barrel Roll
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.
Paradiegma Metaphysic
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.
Henry Lawson Memorial
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.
Memory is Creation Without End by Kimio TsuchiyaMemory is Creation Without End by Kimio Tsuchiya
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
