Destination's Journey

Tag: Sydney

  • Art Gallery of NSW North Building

    Art Gallery of NSW North Building

    Art Gallery of NSW North Building

    The Art Gallery of NSW new North Building displays contemporary art, with an emphasis on Indigenous Australian art. The building reflects this with bright well lit rooms and colourful displays. A highlight is the use of its basement, an old storage tank as a display space.

    Getting There

    Located, to the north of the original Art Gallery (now the South Building), it’s walkable from the Sydney CBD. We used the train from Central Station, getting off at St. James and walking, although buses can also be used. If you drive, the Domain carpark would be the closest option.

    Arriving before opening time, we took some photos of the giant sculptures outside and then had a coffee at the café opposite the entrance.

    Inside

    With four levels, there is plenty of space to display artworks. The ground floor has an amazing display of Indigenous art and its great that this is the first gallery you see on entering. Previously displayed at the South Building the collection now has pride of place at the entrance.

    The next two levels down display a series of contemporary art in addition to having access to outside galleries. Here we found an amazing flower sculpture, as well as a Buddhist Temple.

    Lower Level 4 – The Tank

    The highlight though was The Tank. Level 4 used to be an underground oil storage tank, but has been repurposed as an art space. Access is via a spiral staircase, which you descend into increasing darkness. Left deliberately dark, with the original columns still in place, it’s eerie, with lights moving on the ceiling, slowly brightening and dimming to highlight the sculptures there.

    Before entering, you are warned that the area is dark and claustrophobic, so that you know what to expect. Numerous staff patrol the space, ensuring everyone obeys the rules (no flash photos) and remains safe.

    We loved it, the sculptures were unworldly and the empty spaces and columns eerie.

    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard
    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard
    Here Comes Everybody by Francis Upritchard
    Level 1
    Level 1
    Untitled by Frank Stella Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Untitled by Frank Stella
    Ku (dogs)
    Ku (dogs)
    Seven Sisters by Nyunmiti Burton
    Seven Sisters by Nyunmiti Burton
    Dhamala Story by David Malangi Daymirringu
    Dhamala Story by David Malangi Daymirringu
    Death Zephyr by Yhonnie Scarce Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Death Zephyr by Yhonnie Scarce
    Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami
    Japan Supernatural: Vertiginous After Staring at the Empty World Too Intensely, I Found Myself Trapped in the Realm of Lurking Ghosts and Monsters by Takashi Murakami
    Banners From The Lot by Eko Nugroho Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Banners From The Lot by Eko Nugroho
    Three Paintings by John Prince Siddon
    Three Paintings by John Prince Siddon
    by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    by Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran
    Antara by Betty Kuntiwa Pumani Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Antara by Betty Kuntiwa Pumani
    Guts (2022) by Samara Golden
    Guts (2022) by Samara Golden
    Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi Kusama
    Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi Kusama
    Flowers that Bloom in the Cosmos by Yayoi Kusama
    Sculpture Garden Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    Sculpture Garden
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The Tank
    The Tank
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    In the Tank – The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas Art Gallery of NSW North Building
    The End of Imagination by Adrian Villar Rojas

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

  • Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

    Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

    Fullerton Hotel Post Office Building

    Originally Sydney’s Post Office (GPO), this beautiful building has been repurposed into the Fullerton Hotel. Completed in 1891 after 25 years of construction, it served as the GPO until 1996 when the main post office relocated. Instead, Australia Post operate a smaller Postal Shop from the George Street end of the building. At this time, a refurbishment of the building took place. This entailed enclosing the courtyard into an atrium and turning the remaining building into retail shops and offices. With its prominent position on the corner of George St. and Martin Place, it’s a beautiful building and easy to find.

    Tour of the GPO

    Our tour of the Old-GPO took us through the building, while learning about its history. Originally designed by James Barnett, the building was later expanded as postal services grew. If you look at the exterior photo, you will see that the lower two floors have arched windows, while the upper floor’s are round. Apparently Barnett thought that the later architect ruined his design by not continuing with the arches on the upper floor.

    We were able to climb the interior spiral staircase to the upper floors, but access to the clock tower is restricted. This is because the stairs are no longer safe for visitors and are in need of repair. We did see the smaller George Street clock from the round windows on the third floor. From here you are able to see the clocks mechanical workings.

    The old GPO courtyard is now covered, forming an atrium where natural light streams in from the glass ceiling. This is a great sight, even from ground floor, but is much better on the access bridge from the third floor. From here you are able to look down onto what was once a bustling courtyard, but is now a relaxed open space.

    Even if you do not enter the building the exterior is worth looking at because of it’s carvings and colonnade. At 114m long, it’s still one of the largest sandstone buildings in Sydney.

    What Did We Think?

    This was an interesting and informative tour, accessing areas usually off limits. We especially liked the atrium and internal staircase as well as the colonial sandstone architecture.

    George St side of the Fullerton
    George St side of the Fullerton
    Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building
    Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building
    Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building The Fullerton Hotel ex-Post Office Building
    Colonnade on Martin Place side of the building
    Memorial to GPO employees killed in World War One
    Memorial to GPO employees killed in World War One
    Ceiling of the Wentworth Gallery The Fullerton Hotel ex-Post Office Building
    Ceiling of the Wentworth Gallery
    Staircase at the Workers' Entrance The Fullerton Hotel ex-Post Office Building
    Staircase at the Workers’ Entrance
    Interior of The Fullerton
    Interior of The Fullerton showing the preserved GPO building courtyard
    Interior of The Fullerton showing the preserved GPO building courtyard
    Interior of The Fullerton showing the preserved GPO building courtyard
    Grand Staircase The Fullerton Hotel ex-Post Office Building
    Grand Staircase
    Celling above the Grand Staircase
    Celling above the Grand Staircase
    Grand Staircase The Fullerton Hotel ex-Post Office Building
    Grand Staircase
    Spiral Staircase to the clock tower The Fullerton Hotel ex-Post Office Building

    Our photos are available for purchase on

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

  • Queen Victoria Building Sydney

    Queen Victoria Building Sydney

    Queen Victoria Building Sydney

    Built between 1893 and 1898, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is an iconic shopping destination in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Originally designed to replace the Sydney markets, the QVB housed a concert hall, coffee shops, showrooms, warehouses and a wide variety of tradespeople. Over time things changed, the concert hall became the city library, tenants left and others moved in. In the 1930’s the original Romanesque architecture was remodelled into the Art Deco style, while shop fronts were modified and internal galleries are floored over.

    As the building aged it deteriorated until there were constant calls for its demolition from 1959 to 1971. Fortunately this did not occur and the building underwent a refurbishment and restoration from 1982. Original plans, drawings and photographs were not available, so this was an envisaged refurbishment, done to the best abilities of the architects.

    Today with it’s floors and galleries restored it is a wonderful place to wander through, either browsing, shopping or eating.

    Tour

    We organised a tour through the building which takes visitors behind the scenes into places where the general public is not able to go. The guide gave a detailed history of the building explaining many of the design features.

    One of the major features of the building is the copper clad domes on the roof. Dominated by the large central dome, there are also 20 smaller cupolas on the roof. We were able to go through a service door and see the interior of several domes, being able to view their timber structure. We were also able to walk on the roof, getting a close up look at the dome’s exterior.

    The true beauty of the building though is the internal design, where the stained glass of the dome, ceiling and windows provide an amazing sight. Even the floor tiles are works of art and they are best viewed from one of the upper galleries. From here you not only get a get view of the interior, but a birds eye view of the tiles’ design.

    Unfortunately we didn’t get to climb the spiral staircase that is a feature of the upper floor. Apparently it is unsafe to take a group of tourists up it. Instead, this old staircase that used to be for maintenance access is now just a decoration.

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great tour, where we got to go behind the scenes. Being able to see inside the domes and onto the roof was great. The knowledge of the guide was amazing, not only could they talk about the building and answer questions but were also able to keep a group of tourists all heading the same way so that we stayed on time.

    Queen Victoria Statue
    Queen Victoria Statue
    The Queen Victoria Building and its domes
    The Queen Victoria Building and its domes
    Entrance staircase and stained glass window
    Entrance staircase and stained glass window
    Stained glass window over the entrance Queen Victoria Building
    Stained glass window over the entrance
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    Spiral Staircase to the dome
    The dome from inside the building
    The dome from inside the building
    The Queen Victoria Building clock from the upper level
    The QVB clock from the upper level
    Looking down from the top level
    Looking down from the top level
    Three levels of the Queen Victoria Building
    Three levels of the QVB
    Three levels of the Queen Victoria Building and the dome
    Three levels of the QVB and the dome
    Wooden structure of one of the smaller domes
    Wooden structure of one of the smaller domes
    Internal structure of one of the smaller domes Queen Victoria Building
    Internal structure of one of the smaller domes
    The main dome from the roof Queen Victoria Building
    The main dome from the roof

    Our photos are available for purchase on

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