Destination's Journey

Tag: Sculpture

  • Chinese Garden of Friendship

    Chinese Garden of Friendship

    Chinese Garden of Friendship

    Located in Darling Harbour next to Chinatown, the Chinese Garden of Friendship has been a place of relaxation in Sydney since 1988. Built as a symbol of friendship between Sydney, New South Wales and the city of Guangzhou in the province of Guangdong, China (sister cities of sister states), to mark Australia’s bicentennial in 1988, it is one of only a few public Chinese gardens outside mainland China.

    Open daily, there is an entry fee which includes a guided tour if you don’t want to wander around and discover the gardens for yourself.

    Getting There

    We walked here from Chinatown, but the closest light rail stations are Paddy’s Market, Chinatown and Exhibition Centre, each a five-minute walk away. The closest ferry wharf is Barangaroo, although that is a 20-minute walk.

    Gardens

    Unlike most of the other gardens found in Sydney, there are no formally laid out flowerbeds or manicured lawns here. Instead, wild aspects of nature are recreated in landscapes that feature waterfalls, mountains, lakes and forests.

    Following the Taoist principles of ‘Yin-Yang’, the opposing yet complementary and balanced forces, and ‘Wu-Xing’, the five elements or phases—wood, fire, earth, metal and water, the gardens are peaceful and relaxing. 

    Chinese Garden
    Chinese Garden
    View of the Temple over the Pond
    View of the Temple over the Pond
    Pond
    Pond
    Waterfall
    Waterfall

    Garden Walls

    Two of the impressive walls within the garden are the Cloud and Dragon walls. Featuring two flying dragons, the Dragon Wall was a gift from Guangdong, with the brown dragon representing Guangdong, and the blue dragon New South Wales.

    Chinese Garden of Friendship Circular Entrance
    Cloud Wall
    Chinese Garden of Friendship Dragon Wall
    The Dragon Wall

    Pavilion

    There are 17 pavilions in the Gardens, but one is larger than the others and overlooks the pond.

    • Chinese Garden of Friendship Temple
      Temple
    • Chinese Garden of Friendship Temple
      Pavilion
    • Carving Inside Temple
      Carving Inside Pavilion
    • Pavilion Ceiling

    What Did We Think of the Chinese Garden of Friendship ?

    A relaxing place to visit and get away from the city for a while and take in some Chinese culture.

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

    Our photos are available for purchase on

  • Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

    Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

    Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

    Kamay Visitor Centre

    Before setting out on the Burrawang Walk, drop into the Visitor Centre. Not only are the toilets located here, but it is full of useful information for your visit. The staff were very friendly and helpful, which made the day start on a positive note.

    Burrawang Walk Kamay Bay

    Weaving through the history of the area, the Burrawang Walk takes you through the eyes of the original inhabitants of the area, through to Cook’s landing in 1770 and to its ongoing impact. Starting at the Visitor Centre it was originally called the Monuments Track, because of the monuments in the area. This is an easy track, because it’s only 1.2 km long, and mostly on grass or concrete pathways.

    Interpretive Signs

    Interpretive signs provide an insight into Aboriginal life in the area and the impact white settlement had on them. This is great because until recently, only European heritage was commemorated here.

    • Interpretive Area Burrawand Walk
      Some of the Interpretive Signs
    • Interpretive Sign Burrawand Walk
      Interpretive Sign

    Meeting Place

    The Meeting Place Kamay Botany Bay National Park Burrawand Walk
    The Meeting Place

    Cook’s Landing Place

    A large obelisk and plaque commemorating Cook’s landing place dominate one section of the shore. In 1770, Lieutenant (later Captain) Cook landed here and claimed the continent in the name of the British Crown.

    • Captain Cook's Landing
      Captain Cook’s Landing
    • Plaque at Cook's Landing
      Plaque at Cook’s Landing

    Banks’ Memorial

    Banks inclusion in Cook’s expedition as a scientist led to many discoveries of plants and animals unknown to Europeans. A large memorial to him sits near Cook’s memorial, which recognises his contribution to science.

    Banks Memorial Burrawand Walk
    Banks Memorial

    Solander Memorial

    An interesting memorial and the first one we saw is to Daniel Solander, a Swedish scientist who accompanied Banks on the Cook expedition. He was the first Swede and university trained scientist to set foot in Australia.

    Solander’s documentation of unknown plants led to the area being named Botany Bay, although now it has a dual name, Kamay Bay in recognition of its Aboriginal heritage.

    Overshadowed by Banks while also dying at the young age of 49, he did not develop the reputation he deserved.

    Solander Memorial Kamay Botany Bay National Park Burrawand Walk
    Solander Memorial

    Bronze Sculptures

    Sitting in, or on the water’s edge are three sets of bronze sculptures. These commemorate the 250th anniversary of the meeting of Aboriginal Australians and the crew of HMB Endeavour.

    • Whale Sculpture
      Whale Sculpture
    • Whale Sculpture
      Whale Sculpture
    • Whale Bone Sculpture
      Eyes of the Land and Sea
    • Whale Bone Sculpture
      Whale Bone Sculpture
    • Bronze Canoe Sculpture
      Bronze Canoe Sculpture

    First European’s Grave

    Located on the waterfront, is a plaque marking the grave of Forby Sutherland, the first British subject buried in Australia. Forby died of tuberculosis.

    Forby Sutherland Burial
    Forby Sutherland Burial

    What Did We Think of Burrawang Walk?

    This was a nice, easy walk with lots to see. The numerous information boards were educational, which made it even more interesting. This is a must visit if you are in Sydney, because of the number of memorials and European heritage.

  • Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park

    Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park

    Pensioners Hill Lookout and Sculpture Park

    A beautiful place with views over Gunnedah, Pensioners Hill Lookout also has a sculpture park, which makes an even more interesting place to visit. The walkway through the park is named after Ailsa Iceton, a nurse who performed many charitable works in Gunnedah. During the Great Depression, she would bring meals to the residents of Pensioners Hill.

    The park’s brick wall is constructed from bricks recovered from the demolition of a chimney used for a nearby mine, thereby incorporating its heritage value into the new park. A plaque near the entrance gate details the history of the chimney.

    • Alisa Iceton Walkway Information Board
      Alisa Iceton Walkway Information Board
    • Pensioner's Hill Reserve Entrance Plaque
      Pensioners Hill Reserve Entrance Plaque

    Kamilaroi Peoples

    On entering the park, the first display on your right is a series of carved trees. These are a remembrance of the Kamilaroi People and their ancestral animals totemic beings. The Kamilaroi people’s lands extend from New South Wales to southern Queensland. They form one of the four largest Indigenous nations in Australia.

    • Carved Trees as a Remembrance of the Kamilaroi Peoples and their Ancestral Animals Totemic Beings
      Carved Trees as a Remembrance of the Kamilaroi Peoples and their Ancestral Animals Totemic Beings

    Pensioners Hill Lookout and Heritage Sculpture Park

    The park contains four sculptures by Carl Merten and Joan Relke, with each depicting the heritage of the Gunneda area. The sculptures show:

    • The Red Chief, a Kamilaroi man who lived in the area in the 18th century. He had a reputation as a warrior and wise leader of the Gunn-e-darr tribe.
    • The Pioneer Woman, early settlers facing harsh environments, isolation and loneliness.
    • Agriculture representing the rich grazing lands and crops across the Liverpool Plains.
    • The Coal Miner labouring underground.

    Carved on the back of each sculpture is the Great Rainbow Serpent of Aboriginal mythology, tying them all together.

    • Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      Sculptures on Pensioners Hill
    • Snake Sculpture
      Snake Sculpture
    • Snake Sculpture Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      The Rainbow Serpent Sculpture
    • Coal Miner Sculpture Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      Coal Miner Sculpture
    • Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      The Rainbow Serpent Sculpture
    • Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      Pioneer Woman Sculpture
    • Aboriginal Man Sculpture Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      The Red Chief Sculpture
    • Sheep and Cattle Sculpture Pensioners Hill Lookout Sculpture Park
      Agriculture Sculpture

    Mining Heritage

    Behind the rock sculptures is a display of three mine skips on rail tracks. This display sponsored by the CFMEU (the mine workers’ Union) pays tribute to the coal miners of the district. It not only commemorates the workers, but those who did not make it home, after working in the dangerous mine conditions.

    These skips add to the mining heritage reflected in the entrance wall, which shows the importance of the industry in the districts past.

    • Mine Cars
      Mine Cars

    Places to Relax

    Placed throughout the park are beautifully carved seats, where you can sit and enjoy the park. If you want to relax under cover, a rotunda at the top of the hill is a great place to get out of the weather.

    • Rotunda on Pensioners' Hill
      Rotunda on Pensioners Hill
    • Seat With Carved Eagle Wings
      Seat With Carved Eagle Wings

    The View

    The viewing platform gives a great view of Gunnedah. The silos and red roofed building in the photo is where the Dorothea Mackellar silo art sits. While there, look at the town from inside the rotunda, because it can be framed nicely by the entrance.

    • View of Gunnedah From Pensioners' Hill
      View of Gunnedah From Pensioners Hill
    • View of Gunnedah Through the Rotunda
      View of Gunnedah Through the Rotunda

    What Did We Think

    If you are in Gunnedah, this is a great place to visit, because not only do you get a great view, but see great sculptures at the same time. It was nice to see the heritage of the districts tied together using aboriginal culture with the Great Rainbow Serpent.

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

    Our photos are available for purchase on