Sydney Archives - Page 28 of 47 - Destination's Journey

31 March 202131 March 2021

Monet and Friends Impressionists in Sydney

Monet and Friends

Monet and Friends is an art show unlike any other we have visited. Instead of paintings hung on gallery walls, huge projection screens display the art works. With over 20 screens, 3,000 pictures and surround sound it was a truly immersive experience.

The Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park, Sydney, is a great venue and very easy to get to. We used public transport, catching the light rail from Central Station to Moore Park. Those who chose to drive parked in the car park near Fox Studios.

We arrived early, so bought a coffee in the entertainment quarter and relaxed before we went in.

The Entrance

The exhibition started before entering, as the entryway was a series of picture frames, along with Monet’s paintings. Inside, another huge frame was used as a stage for a ballerina performing in front of another painting.

Monet and Friends Exhibition

Running on a 45 minute loop, the exhibition could be entered at any time, which was great so that you didn’t have to wait for it to finish before you entered. The auditorium was large and you were able to walk around to experience it from different perspectives.

The exhibition started with an introduction to impressionism and the important artists. We found this very interesting, because we only had a basic understanding of it. It went through the changes in painting style and the types of paints used. This was presented as a mixture of paintings, real life photos and audio explanations which made it very interesting.

The Paintings

The wonderful paintings composed the largest part of the display. Being able to see them at such a huge scale was great. The immersive effect was very enjoyable, because the art completely surrounded you.

What Did We Think?

We spent over an hour immersed in art while leaning about impressionism. This was a great way to see Monet and the other impressionists, while being educated and entertained.

28 March 202118 April 2021

Government House Sydney

Government House

Located next to the Royal Botanic Garden on Sydney Harbour, Government House is the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales. Completed in 1845, the building is an example of the Gothic Revival style which is characterized by the towers and other medieval features.

The Governor is appointed by the Sovereign and is her representative in New South Wales. As the formal head of state in New South Wales the Governor has an important constitutional, ceremonial and community role In respect of constitutional matters, the Governor acts on the advice of his/her Ministers.

Getting There

We chose public transport, because it is easy and convenient. Only a ten-minute walk from Central Quay, it’s easily accessible using ferries, trains, light rail or buses.

Walking through the Botanic Gardens, we only noticed it was open when we saw people wandering through the gardens. On walking up to the front gates, we saw the open times and decided to take the opportunity to go inside.

Outside and Gardens

Entry to the gardens is free and you are able to walk through them during opening hours. With views over Sydney Harbour, they are great to wander around and admire. At the same time, the outside of the building and it castle-like appearance look great surrounded by trees.

Interior Tour

To go on the guided tour inside the building, you need to sign in at the gate house. Identification is required and bags must be left in the cloak room.

With tours run every 30 minutes, they are convenient and regular. The first starts at 10.30am and the last at 3.00pm. The gardens and guided tours are free of charge, which is great.

Photography is not permitted inside the house. This is a pity because the interior decorations and artwork are amazing.

The tour takes you through the public rooms, where the guide explains the significance of the decorations and the house’s history. We learnt a lot about the Governor’s role and how it has changed since the early days of the NSW colony. Originally the Sovereign’s representative, in charge of running the colony, they are now responsible for ceremonial duties, while the Premier and their Ministers run the state.

If you are able to go on the tour, we really recommend it, as we found it very interesting.

What did We Think?

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

28 March 20218 May 2021

State Library of New South Wales

State Library of New South Wales

Located at 1 Shakespeare Place in the centre of Sydney, the State Library of New South Wales is the oldest library in Australia. Established in 1826, it moved to the current building in 1910. Designed by Walter Liberty Vernon, the heritage listed building has been expanded over the years as its collection has grown.

Outside the Library

The magnificent library building has several interesting statues on its grounds, which are worth looking for. To the right of the main entrance is a statue of Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke. Erected by the people of New South Wales, the statue commemorates Sir Richard Bourke’s governorship and administration. This was the first monument erected in Australia.

Across the road from the entrance, is the Shakespeare Memorial, with figures representing Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Portia and Falstaff on the lower level, with Shakespeare standing above them. Located on a traffic island in the middle of a busy road, you need to be careful if getting close, because there is no pedestrian crossing to it.

Lieutenant General Sir Richard Bourke — State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Building and Façade

Matthew Flinders

A statue of Matthew Flinders, the first person to circumnavigate Australia sits outside the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street.

Flinders’ Cat

Trim was a ship’s cat who accompanied Matthew Flinders on his voyages to circumnavigate and map the coastline of Australia in 1801–03. It sits on a window ledge of the Mitchell Library on Macquarie Street, directly behind a statue of his owner. The plaque near the statue reads:

TO THE MEMORY OF
TRIM
The best and most illustrious of his race.
The most affectionate of friends,
faithful of servants,
and best of creatures.
He made the tour of the globe, and a voyage to Australia,
which he circumnavigated, and was ever the
delight and pleasure of his fellow voyagers.
Written by Matthew Flinders in memory of his cat.
Memorial donated by the North Shore Historical Society.

Vestibule

The library’s vestibule contains a huge copy of the map of Australia made by Abel Tasman in the 1640’s. The original of this historical document is held in the library’s collection.

Tasman's Map of Australia — Tasman’s Map of Australia

The Library

The main collection and reading room, the Mitchell Library Reading Room is adjacent to the vestibule. Being large and spacious with beautiful stain glass windows makes it an excellent place for quiet study.

Main Hall and Study Room State Library of New South Wales — Mitchell Library Reading Room

State Library of New South Wales Galleries

Located on the upper floors of the gallery are several galleries. These contain an excellent collection of paintings and we spent some time wandering around.

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

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