97-699: The Commonwealth Trading Bank Building , also known as the Commonwealth Bank Building , is a historically significant building in the Sydney central business district , New South Wales , Australia, located on the corner of Pitt Street and Martin Place . It was formerly the headquarters of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, which for a significant part of the 20th century functioned as Australia's central bank . The Commonwealth Bank
194-521: A Hyde Park Improvement Committee was formed. Trustees were appointed to determine policy and after 1854 the space gradually became tailored towards a more bourgeois, middle-class ideal of a passive, decorative open space for strolling. It attracted public speakers for a time, until they, like the cricketers, were banished to the Domain to the park's north. Gradually Hyde Park became more a place for passive recreation and more like an "English" garden. There
291-651: A bandstand were introduced. This broadly reflected the rise of the Public Parks Movement in England, and elsewhere in Sydney – with Parramatta Park being declared a public park in the mid-1850s after much lobbying. In the 1850s civic monuments began to be erected in the park. The first in 1857 was the Thornton Obelisk. It is also irreverently known as 'Thornton's Scent Bottle' constructed on
388-530: A boon'. His report went to Council in August 1903. Control of Hyde Park was vested by the Department of Lands in the then Sydney Municipal Council in 1904. A programme of upgrading began. By 1905 illumination of the whole of Hyde Park had been completed. In 1908 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets by 5.5 metres (18 ft) and 4.6 metres (15 ft). In 1910
485-826: A bronze statue was erected by public subscription to commemorate the populist politician William Bede Dalley (1831–88) near the north-east corner of the park near Prince Albert Road. Director of the Botanic Gardens, Joseph Henry Maiden compiled a 42-page paper on "The Parks of Sydney" which he delivered to the Royal Society on 4 June 1902. Providing a schedule of Sydney's 207 "Public Parks and Recreation Reserves" set aside between January 1855 and April 1902, Maiden dealt with their administration, and how they were (or should be) planted, fenced and provided with paths, roads, seats, lights and other facilities, such as latrines, which were now provided "for women and children" in
582-565: A drink. The taps were bronze and in the shape of a dolphin. Also in 1888 the Fort Macquarie Cannon ( c. 1810 s) was placed in the park. In 1888 the John Baptist Memorial Fountain was sited at Hyde Park, in a different location to its current one near the corner of Park & Elizabeth Streets. Early photographs (pre c.1910) show it on an "x" intersection of two paths, and surrounded by
679-470: A fence to be made between the park and the brickfields and directed that carts carrying bricks or pottery should go through the turn-pike gate in George Street . He directed that all traffic crossing the park was to use the new line of road along the route of Liverpool Street to South Head Road (or Oxford Street ). This roadway then defined the southern boundary of Hyde Park. The northern boundary
776-497: A general nature. The council should appoint a superintendent of parks: "trained professional gardeners, not labourers or handy men" should comprise the core of the staff; a nursery and depot were required; etc. With improvements, Elizabeth Street could become "the noblest street in Sydney"...More latrines were generally needed, and if "a convenience for females" were provided in Hyde Park, say near Park Street, it would, I feel sure be
873-463: A large portion of land for an Anglican Cathedral and laid the foundation stone for the first St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in 1821. St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral , though more modest in size than Macquarie's original vision, later began construction and, after fire and setbacks, the present St Mary's Catholic Cathedral foundation stone was laid in 1868, from which rose a towering gothic-revival landmark. Religious groups were also responsible for many of
970-524: A major international exhibition in Paris (1867). Even if a railway station was not erected on Hyde Park (as had been suggested) or even used at all for an exhibition, the proximity of the railway station and exhibition hall was seen as a necessity for practical and symbolic reasons. Ease of transport was vital for a successful show but so was the powerful symbolism of the "iron horse", with its prefabricated iron railway tracks symptomatic of an age that had produced
1067-627: A metal picket fence. Baptist was an early and influential nursery proprietor in Sydney whose nursery "The Garden" in Surry Hills was successful. He was a generous benefactor, donating a fountain to Redfern Park. This fountain was commissioned for "The Garden" nursery. It was donated by his family to the City for Hyde Park on the centenary of the European settlement of Australia – at this time Australia's premier park had no fountain. While its origin
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#17327808279131164-577: A mortgage in 2021. Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Canberra Hyde Park, Sydney Hyde Park , Sydney, is an urban park, of 16.2-hectare (40-acre), located in the central business district of Sydney , in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales , Australia. It is the oldest public parkland in Australia. Hyde Park
1261-432: A park. In 1830 Park Street was extended through the park. In 1832 William and Macquarie Street (southern extension) were constructed severing Hyde Park and establishing its central axis. Also in 1832 College Street was built which divided off part of the park, in the area which became Cook and Phillip Parks. Also in 1832 Sydney College was built (later Sydney Grammar School ). With the nearby Lyons Terrace (1851) and
1358-452: A plaza which terminated Macquarie Street. Macquarie blocked the street named after himself at what was later known as Queens's Square and excluded all roadways from the park. The western boundary was defined as Camden Street, later Elizabeth Street, renamed by Macquarie for his wife, Elizabeth Campbell). It was marked out in Meehan's plan of 1807 almost as far as present day Park Street. This
1455-533: A racecourse and – with its slightly elevated position – a promenade cites Hyde Park as being Sydney's cricket ground from 1827 to 1856. In 1811 Macquarie framed further regulations to secure the space for public recreation. He closed access across the park to the Brickfields beyond, forbade carts to cross it, or cows, sheep, goats and pigs' to graze upon it, and ordered that no cattle headed for markets near Darling Harbour were to be driven across it. He caused
1552-488: A second time in 1851, its north–south line became a rudimentary public walk (known as "Lovers" Walk'); a derivation from the planted walks in English 18th century urban pleasure gardens (such as Vauxhall Gardens). In the 1830s Governor Darling proposed to sell off the park for houses, but his successor Governor Bourke rebuffed the claims of those who desired the park for residential allotments and reaffirmed its status as
1649-495: A settlement was established at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. This date later became Australia's national day, Australia Day . The colony was formally proclaimed by Governor Phillip on 7 February 1788 at Sydney. Sydney Cove offered a fresh water supply and Port Jackson a safe harbour, which Phillip described as: "being without exception the finest Harbour in the World". With the expansion of European settlement large amounts of land
1746-561: A sort of "Common" on the edge of the town. It had quite a different status to the Governor 's Domain, which became the Botanic Gardens. It was land that belonged to the people, rather than to the Governor or his officials. The settlers grazed their animals on it and used its brush and trees as firewood. It was gradually denuded of vegetation. By 1810 it would have been a relatively open, elevated space and by then it would have had views out to
1843-633: A vegetable garden of 11 acres allocated to the Barracks and a site marked out for the Roman Catholic Chapel... "near the rubbish dump". The foundation stone for what would become St Mary's Cathedral was laid in 1821 on a site adjoining Hyde Park's north-eastern side, the first site granted to the Roman Catholic Church in Australia. Macquarie made no move to have the space planted. He probably had enough difficulty getting
1940-630: Is Central railway station , which is located to the south of the CBD in Haymarket : it connects services for almost all of the lines in the Sydney Trains network, as well as being the terminus for NSW TrainLink country and inter-urban rail services. From Central, there is a largely-underground CBD rail loop, accessed in both directions via Central, which services five CBD stations ( Town Hall , Wynyard , Circular Quay , St James and Museum ). This
2037-469: Is on the eastern fringe of the Sydney city centre and is approximately rectangular in shape, being squared at the southern end and rounded at the northern end. It is bordered on the west by Elizabeth Street , on the east by College Street , on the north by St James Road and Prince Albert Road and on the south by Liverpool Street . The park was designed by Norman Weekes, Sir John Sulman (1927 design resolution), Alfred Hook, W. G. Layton and I. Berzins and
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#17327808279132134-643: Is a historic precinct that houses such buildings as the State Parliament House and the Supreme Court of New South Wales . The Geographical Names Board defines the area covering the central business district as the suburb named " Sydney ". The formal boundaries of the suburb "Sydney" covers most of the peninsula formed by Cockle Bay in the west and Woolloomooloo Bay in the east. It extends north to Circular Quay , Bennelong Point and Mrs Macquarie's Chair , east to Woolloomooloo Bay and
2231-779: Is a large concentration of cultural institutions within the CBD including: the Museum of Sydney , the State Library of New South Wales , the Customs House branch of the City of Sydney Library , the Theatre Royal , the City Recital Hall and the Japan Foundation . There are a total of 19 churches located in the Sydney city centre. Many other cultural institutions are located at the surrounds of
2328-488: Is also sometimes called the "money box building"). Sydney central business district The Sydney central business district ( CBD ) is the historical and main commercial centre of Sydney . The CBD is Sydney's city centre , or Sydney City , and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially, the CBD or city centre is often referred to simply as " Town " or " the City ". The Sydney city centre extends southwards for about 3 km (2 mi) from Sydney Cove ,
2425-566: Is described as a national symbol, "the first and very substantial physical manifestation of the powers that the Commonwealth Government acquired in the area of banking after the federation of the Australian colonies." The building is also regarded as significant for its design, combining Grecian Doric , Art Deco and other influences. The image of the building itself became familiar to many people across Australia during
2522-464: Is known as the City Circle . In addition, a separate underground line to Bondi Junction services an additional underground station, Martin Place . The Inner West Light Rail passes immediately to the south of the CBD, connecting Central to nearby suburbs of Sydney's Inner West . The CBD and South East Light Rail runs north–south through the CBD, connecting Circular Quay with Central and
2619-470: Is safe for all time. For each generation is wiser than the preceding one...". He may, in retrospect, have been over-optimistic on these last two points. After addressing the Royal Society, Maiden was asked by Sydney Council to report on the state of the reserves within the city. He furnished an interim report in July 1903, before he had inspected Prince Alfred and Moore Parks, but many of his suggestions were of
2716-469: Is the southernmost of a chain of parkland that extends north to the shore of Sydney Harbour via The Domain and Royal Botanic Garden . Around the park's boundaries lie various buildings housing the Supreme Court of New South Wales , St James Church , Hyde Park Barracks and Sydney Hospital to the north, St Mary's Cathedral , the Australian Museum and Sydney Grammar School to the east,
2813-412: Is uncertain – it seems to be a locally made copy (in sandstone) after an 1842 English design – since the 1830s catalogues of the English firm Austin and Seeley had carried descriptions of fountains made of artificial stone and J.C. Loudon had advocated installing jetting fountains. A popular theme was three dolphins or carp on rockwork, their tails holding up the shell-shaped basin.... It also appears to be
2910-486: Is usually considered to be an inner western suburb, not a part of the Sydney city centre or CBD. Sydney's history begins in prehistoric times with the occupation of the district by Australian Aboriginals , whose ancestors came to Sydney in the Upper Paleolithic period. Radiocarbon dating suggests that they lived in and around Sydney for at least 30,000 years. Sydney Cove from Port Jackson to Petersham
3007-705: The 1851 Great Exhibition in Joseph Paxton 's Crystal Palace , held in London's Hyde Park, and the first Australian Colonial Exhibition in Melbourne in 1854, Sydney also held a more modest exhibition in the Museum to display exhibits destined for Paris (the 1855 International Exhibition) or Melbourne (1861). Victoria also hosted Australia's earliest intercolonial exhibition, in Melbourne (1866–7), again preceding
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3104-571: The Australian Museum (1849–51) the southern end of Hyde Park attracted significant and imposing buildings which increased its importance as a planned open space envisaged by Francis Greenway. In 1837 the first major planting in the park was undertaken by Superintendent of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, Alan Cunningham . Also in 1837 Sydney's second main water supply (after the first one – the Tank Stream – had become polluted)
3201-531: The Downing Centre to the south, the David Jones flagship store and the CBD to the west. It is divided in two by the east–west running Park Street . Hyde Park contains well-kept gardens and approximately 580 trees: a mixture of figs , conifers , palms , and other varieties. It is famed for its magnificent fig tree lined avenues . Sandringham Gardens sit on the eastern side of the park, close to
3298-588: The Governor of New South Wales . The northern wing of Macquarie Street's 's Rum Hospital was requisitioned and converted to accommodate the first Parliament House in 1829, as it was the largest building available in Sydney at the time. In 1840 the Sydney City Council was established. Australia's first parliamentary elections were conducted for the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1843. Macquarie set aside
3395-516: The Hunter and the Illawarra , to gather at a ceremonial contest ground to the south of the city. The exact location of this site of ritualized conflict settlement and resistance is unclear. Described as lying between the road to Botany Bay and the Brickfields, it was probably near Hyde Park South. Bloody fist fights involving up to 100 people, spearings and beatings were used to resolve conflicts at
3492-493: The 2024 Oxford's Global Cities Index and amongst the top 10 cities in the Human Capital category. Approximately 15% of Sydney's total workforce is employed within the CBD. In 2012, the number of workers operating in the city was 226,972. Based on industry mix and relative occupational wage levels it is estimated that economic activity (GDP) generated in the city in 2015/16 was approximately $ 118 billion. Culturally ,
3589-482: The 20th century through its use on money boxes issued by the Commonwealth Bank to children starting from 1922. The money boxes were rectangular shape, roughly reflecting the dimensions of the bank building, and printed with the building's exterior. As a result, it is referred to as the "money box building". (The State Savings Bank building at 48 Martin Place was also featured on some later money boxes, and
3686-401: The Botanic Gardens, but not yet "in our parks, so far as I am aware". Maiden stressed that above all, 'in this democratic country, parks "should be inviolable". Their inalienability had to be rigorously guarded. He noted that fortunately "the battle of Hyde Park has been fought and won. Hyde Park will be immune from the builder and the railway constructor for a century, and if for so long, then it
3783-565: The Brickfields contest ground. These were observed and recorded by visiting Russian sailors in 1814, and again 10 years later by the French explorers Dumont d'Urville and René Lesson on their voyage of Coquille . The valley of the Tank Stream was cradled between two slightly elevated sandstone and shale ridges which ran down to the harbour to form Dawes Point and Bennelong Point on each side of Sydney Cove . The Tank Stream itself
3880-652: The CBD, such as: the Sydney Opera House and the Museum of Contemporary Art to the north, the Australian Museum and the Art Gallery of New South Wales to the east, the Powerhouse Museum to the west, White Rabbit Gallery and the Haymarket branch of the City of Sydney Library to the south. The lanes and alleyways of Sydney exhibit the culture and arts of the CBD. Every January during
3977-419: The CBD. It is currently under construction, with a planned completion date of 2024. Construction on a separate rapid transit line to connect the CBD with the secondary centre of Parramatta is also expected to begin in late 2022. Sydney's cultural centre is compacted within its central business district and inner city ring, due to its nightlife, pedestrian traffic and centrality of notable attractions. There
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4074-429: The City of Sydney into the "small area" called "The Rocks - Miller's Point - Dawe's Point". The postcode zone 2000 is also roughly correlative with the city centre. The City of Sydney is traditionally the governing authority for Sydney's city centre. However, the boundaries of the City of Sydney have always been larger than the city centre or CBD. For example, Pyrmont has been in the City of Sydney since 1842 but
4171-561: The Crystal Palace. Encouraged by the success of the first Sydney exhibition of the Agricultural Society of NSW in 1869, Prince Alfred Park was chosen as the site of the grand Intercolonial Exhibition of 1870. To Sydney's chagrin, the Melbourne exhibition was a great success and the "mother colony" looked anxiously to the day when she could respond with a confident rejoinder. The centenary of Cook's voyage along
4268-540: The Eastern Suburbs. Buses service the CBD along several dozen routes to both inner and more remote suburbs. NightRide is an after-hours bus service that operates between midnight and 5:00 am, with most services running from George Street outside the Sydney Town Hall. Sydney Ferries operate largely from Circular Quay , on the northern edge of the CBD. There are several wharves (directly beneath
4365-611: The Government Domain in order. However the formal nature of the Queens Square end of Hyde Park made it an appropriate place for Governor Brisbane 's Commission to be read to the assembled populace on 1 December 1821. < Francis Greenway , architect to Governor Macquarie, wrote in a letter to The Australian in April 1825 that Hyde Park was to be "given to the inhabitants of Sydney for ever, and to be laid down in
4462-805: The MP for Bligh, even addressed a crowd in Martin Place in 1988 in a futile attempt to save the Regent Theatre from its imminent fate. At the 2021 census , the population of the Sydney CBD was recorded as 16,667. International students account for 32% of Sydney CBD residents. Australia-born individuals make up 22.3% of the CBD's population. The most common countries of birth other than Australia were Indonesia (12.9%), Thailand (12.4%), China (9.7%), India (3.5%) and South Korea (3.1%). Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people made up 0.3% of
4559-665: The Manor of Hyde and which was seized from the Abbey of Westminster by Henry VIII for a forest hunting reserve in 1536). Macquarie's naming and formal definition of the park was part of his town planning policy. He named the streets and regularised their courses, erected a wharf in Cockle Bay, relocated the Market Place and planned other improvements in the town, as well as defining Sydney's first major park and formalising its use "for
4656-564: The Sydney CBD, in styles of concrete and glass structures. Administratively, the Sydney CBD falls under the authority of the local government area of the City of Sydney . The New South Wales state government also has authority over some aspects of the CBD, in particular through Property NSW . In the New South Wales state parliament, the seat of " Sydney " covers the city centre together with inner western, southern and eastern suburbs. Independent Alex Greenwich has represented
4753-471: The Sydney Harbour and Lord Howe Island . Australian Labor Party member Tanya Plibersek has represented the federal seat of Sydney since the 1998 Australian federal election . The Sydney CBD is home to some of the largest Australian companies, as well as serving as an Asia-Pacific headquarters for many large international companies. The financial services industry in particular occupies much of
4850-523: The Sydney district. The name Eora simply means "here" or "from this place", and was used by Local Aboriginal people to describe to the British where they came from. After arriving to Botany Bay , Captain Arthur Phillip decided that the area was not suitable since it had poor soil, no secure anchorage and no reliable water source. Thus, the fleet moved to the more suitable Port Jackson where
4947-517: The Synagogue the character of Elizabeth Street became somewhat less exclusive. By 1900, pubs and the odd private club – including Tattersall's bookmakers club – were a feature of the street. In 1879 (on the centenary of Cook's death) the Captain Cook statue was erected, on a stone base that had been erected in 1869. It stands on the highest point in the park. Its sculptor was Thomas Woolmer who
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#17327808279135044-484: The advice of Director of the Botanic Gardens, Charles Moore . Despite removal of an earlier central avenue of Moreton Bay figs, other specimens of both of these species survive from this era. In 1866 the parkland was enclosed with a two-railed hardwood fence. A bronze statue of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert , was erected in 1866 five years after his death. This was moved to the Botanic Gardens in 1922 and relocated in front of Hyde Park Barracks in 1987. After
5141-482: The available office space, with companies such as the Westpac , Commonwealth Bank , Citibank , Deutsche Bank , Macquarie Group , AMP , Insurance Australia Group , Aon , Marsh McLennan , Allianz , HSBC , Axa , ABN Amro , Royal Bank of Canada and Bloomsbury Publishing all having offices. Sydney's CBD is serviced by commuter rail , light rail , bus and ferry transport. Sydney's main commuter rail hub
5238-565: The ball to welcome Queen Victoria 's son Prince Alfred in 1868. Its 19th-century layout featured straight paths rather than curved ones, with the central avenue of Moreton Bay fig trees continuing the line of Macquarie Street southward. Elsewhere lawns were interspersed with clumps of trees and shrubs, water features and a bandstand. In 1861 planting was undertaken, predominantly along pathways. Moreton Bay ( Ficus macrophylla ) and Port Jackson (F.rubiginosa) figs were planted in Hyde Park in 1862 (1860 say Mackaness & Butler-Bowden, 2007, 72) on
5335-513: The building was extensively refurbished. The 1960s extension was rebuilt, while much of the 1916 building and 1930s extension was stripped out and refurbished. The building now houses retail space in the old banking hall. The building was listed on the now defunct Register of the National Estate between 1978 until the register's abolition in 2007, and it is now listed on the City of Sydney local government heritage register. The building
5432-699: The centre and elevated. We know it was timbered, as was the rest of the topography, from the early drawings of the settlement, and Director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney J. H. Maiden has suggested that the dominant species were probably white or brittle gum ( Eucalyptus micrantha ), blackbutt ( E.pilularis ), bloodwood ( Corymbia gummifera ), Port Jackson figs ( Ficus rubiginosa ), Bangalow palms ( Archontophoenix cunninghamiana ), cabbage tree palms ( Livistona australis ) and smooth-barked white apple ( Angophora costata ), with an understorey of tea tree (Leptospermum sp.), wattle ( Acacia sp. ) and NSW Christmas bush ( Ceratopetalum gummiferum ). From 1788 this
5529-436: The city centre is Sydney's focal point for nightlife and entertainment, and is also home to some of the city's most culturally significant buildings and structures . The Sydney CBD is an area of very densely concentrated skyscrapers and other buildings, interspersed by several parks such as Hyde Park , The Domain , Royal Botanic Garden and Wynyard Park . Geographically, its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in
5626-422: The colony's first sports centre and racecourse. Prize fights and cricket matches were held here. In 1803 cricket was introduced on The Common by British officers. This game became an obsession and the area served the game from 1827 to 1856. Before 1810 the area was known as "The Common," the "Exercising Ground", "Cricket Ground" or "Racecourse". Macquarie, on 11 February 1810, formally reserved it as open space,
5723-531: The course of the original Tank Stream (now tunneled). George Street is the Sydney CBD's main north–south thoroughfare. Bridge Street took its name from the bridge running east–west that once crossed this stream. Martin Place is the financial heart of the CBD whereas Pitt Street is the retail heart of the city andincludes the Pitt Street Mall as well as the Sydney Tower . Macquarie Street
5820-478: The death of Private Ernest William Keefe. Eight people sustained injuries. Because this incident occurred in the middle of the Great War the state discouraged media coverage. Only a fifth of the rioters were court-marshalled. These riots spurred the introduction of lockout laws for pubs after 6 pm. This law was only lifted in 1955. The early 1960s onwards saw the construction of new modern high-rise skyscrapers in
5917-478: The earliest surviving ornamental (c.f. drinking) fountain in Sydney. Elizabeth Bay House 's fountain is believed an earlier import. Government House 's and Vaucluse House 's – almost identical – were installed in the 1860s. In c. 2007 the City of Sydney removed the sandstone pedestal (with three triton fish forming a tapering spout) for conservation and safekeeping. The base remains in situ. The current management plan proposes its reinstallation and repair. In 1897
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#17327808279136014-408: The east coast of Australia of 1770 was seen as a suitable commemorative event and Hyde Park, Sydney considered an appropriate site. A proposal to erect a new central railway station and use the hall for the exhibition, was considered A c. 1870 painting by Thomas H. Lewis showed Merry Cricket Club Matches in Hyde Park's north – the park was apparently only planted from Park Street south if
6111-538: The eastern boundary of the Domain and Hyde Park, south to Goulburn Street just north of Sydney's Chinatown (Haymarket), and west to cover the Darling Harbour area on the western shore of Cockle Bay. However, it does not include the northwestern portion of the peninsula which includes the Barangaroo , The Rocks, Millers Point , Dawes Point and Walsh Bay area, which are formally separate suburbs grouped by
6208-545: The elevated Circular Quay commuter rail station), with Wharf 3 operating exclusively to Manly . Additionally, the rapid transit line connecting the northwest suburbs with Chatswood is planned to continue to the CBD when the second stage of the Sydney Metro is completed. This rapid transit line is underground in the CBD area and will link the North Shore to Bankstown via a tunnel underneath Sydney Harbour and
6305-417: The first public park set aside in Australia. He formally defined the park as bounded in the north by the NSW Government Domain, on the west by the town of Sydney, on the east by the grant to John Palmer at Woolloomooloo and on the south by the brickfields. Macquarie named it "Hyde Park" after the great Hyde Park in London , north-west of Westminster, near Buckingham Palace (which had once belonged to
6402-428: The head of Cockle Bay (now Darling Harbour ) and noted in writing on the map that no land within the line was to be leased or granted and should remain the property of the Crown. In subsequent years this directive was whittled away. King granted leases in the town, Foveaux had begun to issue grants, Macquarie was to extend the grants. The area of Hyde Park however, fell largely within this line, and became regarded as
6499-435: The intersection of Park Street and College Street. At the time of European settlement in 1788, the local Aboriginal people hunted ducks in the swampy marshes that were to become Hyde Park. Hyde Park is also understood to be the site of an important Aboriginal contest ground which is a part of the greater Aboriginal history of Sydney . Until the mid-1820s, Aboriginal people travelled from all over Sydney and as far away as
6596-418: The intersection with Art Gallery Road and St Mary's Road). The fountain was designed by John F. Hennessy as assistant to the City Architect, Charles Sapford) was sited at Hyde Park on the corner of Oxford and College Street. This was one of the first sources of clean water for Sydney and a population meeting point in the park. The original design featured cups dangling from the large water basin for people to take
6693-401: The introduction of green bans in the 1970s and the increasing need for office or living space. Since then, a number of prominent buildings in the CBD have been lost: Anthony Hordern & Sons on George Street, the Regent Theatre also on George Street, Commercial Travelers' Club and Hotel Australia at Martin Place all attracted the ire of Sydneysiders–Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, then
6790-519: The latter consisting predominantly of apartments. It is also home to the Australia Square tower building on George Street, which was the city's tallest building until 1976. As of 2017, the tallest structure is Sydney Tower at 309 m (1,014 ft) which has dominated the city skyline since it was topped out in 1981. In 2016, height limits for buildings were lifted from 235 m (771 ft) to 310 m (1,017 ft). Heritage conservation has been an ongoing issue for Sydney's city centre since
6887-399: The most elegant style of landscape gardening". It would be planted out "in the modern way of landscape gardening, as many of the squares are now in London, the garden enclosed with an elegant rail fence". Lack of cooperation from the Colonial Office in London meant that Greenway's elaborate and optimistic plans for beautifying Sydney were put aside for the time being. Wrestling and boxing in
6984-466: The north east across Woolloomooloo to the harbour. Early on there were shingling parties and saw pits operating in the vicinity. It was known as "the Common" even before Governor Macquarie defined its size and use by his proclamation of 5 October 1810. His 83rd regiment had established a camp there while waiting for more permanent accommodation, on the southern end near the brickfields. Later it became
7081-480: The north to Central railway station in the south. Its east–west axis runs from a chain of parkland that includes Hyde Park , The Domain , Royal Botanic Garden and Farm Cove on Sydney Harbour in the east; to Darling Harbour and the Western Distributor in the west. The CBD runs along two ridge lines below Macquarie Street and York Streets. Between these ridges is Pitt Street, running close to
7178-463: The painting was accurate. In 1871 additional planting was undertaken. In 1876 the parkland was redefined and enclosed with a dwarf stone wall and iron palisade fence. In 1878 Hyde Park was formally delineated, its corners demarcated with gates and sandstone piers surmounted by gas lamps. In 1878 the Great Synagogue was built on Elizabeth Street facing Hyde Park. Beyond (i.e. south of)
7275-403: The park continued, with quoits, rugby union, hurling, military drills, a zoo in 1849. In public holidays the park resembled a "side show alley". From the first attempts at structuring it the site has lent itself to a formal design. Emphasis on a central avenue was given by the 1832 extension of Macquarie Street south through the park and by its flatness. When this street extension was closed for
7372-445: The park's western side entrance facing Bathurst Street (intersection with Elizabeth St.). This is actually a sewerage ventilator, made to appear like Cleopatra's Needle, an Egyptian Obelisk now displayed in London. In the 1850s with the coming of responsible government, Hyde Park became a venue for Sunday oratory on political and civic topics, and later election meetings. It was also used for processions and official gatherings such as
7469-548: The philanthropic activities in Sydney. One of these was the Sydney Female Refuge Society set up to care for prostitutes in 1848. An academy of art formed in 1870 and the present Art Gallery of New South Wales building began construction in 1896. Inspired by the works of French impressionism , artists camps formed around the foreshores of Sydney Harbour in the 1880s. The Romanesque landmark Queen Victoria Building (QVB), designed by George McRae ,
7566-465: The point of first European settlement in which the Sydney region was initially established. The Sydney CBD is Australia's main financial and economic centre, as well as a leading hub of economic activity for the Asia Pacific region. 40.7 % of businesses in the CBD fall within the ‘Finance and Financial Services’ or ‘Professional and Business services’ category. It is ranked overall #16 in
7663-410: The population. Culturally, residents in the CBD have diverse ancestries, with Chinese, Thai, English, Indonesian, and Korean being the most common. Religious affiliations are equally diverse, with the largest group reporting 'No Religion' (36.1%), followed by Buddhism (21.4%) and Catholicism (13.7%). 99.2% of dwellings were flats or apartments. 72.0% were rented and 24.2% were owned outright or with
7760-445: The recreation and amusement of the inhabitants". He also added another use for the park, "as a field of exercise for the troops". His proclamation acknowledged the previous uses of the area. Ten days after Macquarie named it Hyde Park it was the venue for Australia's first organised horse race and it was used for races through the 1820s. At that time it was much larger, marking the outskirts of Sydney's southern settlement. The park
7857-485: The state seat of Sydney since the 2012 by-election , triggered by the resignation of previous independent Clover Moore , who was the Lord Mayor of Sydney , due to introduced state laws preventing dual membership of state parliament and local council. In the federal parliament, the seat of " Sydney " covers the city centre together with a larger set of inner western, southern and eastern suburbs, as well as islands in
7954-520: The summer, the city celebrates with the Sydney Festival . Australian and International theatre during the month is also featured, including Aboriginal , and Contemporary. The Sydney Film Festival is an international event organised every year in June at various venues across the CBD. The festival opened on 11 June 1954 and was held over four days, with screenings at Sydney University. Attendance
8051-565: Was Busby's Bore in Lachlan Swamps (later part of Centennial Park ). An outlet for water brought to the city from the bore through a tunnel was an elevated pipe in Hyde Park where water carts queued and filled their barrels to sell in the town at 3 pennies per bucket. In 1846 work commenced on the Australian Museum on the south-east corner of William and Park Streets, probably to the design of architect Mortimer Lewis. This
8148-462: Was a place where soldiers could be quickly assembled in case of a convict rebellion. It was probably the site of a bloody battle between Aboriginal people and Europeans for control of land around Sydney. It was also the site of an important Aboriginal contest ground. Before Governor Phillip departed from the settlement in December 1792, he had drawn a line from the head of Woolloomooloo Bay to
8245-555: Was at first defined by the edge of the Governor's Demesne (Domain), which the Macquaries came to regard as their personal pleasure grounds. Macquarie himself directed the building of Hyde Park Barracks (1817–19), St James' Church (1820) and the Law Courts (1819–28) at the northern end of Hyde Park, using Francis Greenway as his architect, with these buildings as fine embellishments to the colonial town, facing each other across
8342-597: Was at full capacity with 1,200 tickets sold at one guinea each. Sydney boasts a lively café culture, as well as a club and bar scene distributed throughout the CBD and concentrated in a couple of locations such as Darling Harbour . Although Kings Cross is not technically located within the Sydney CBD, it is accessible via William Street, which runs through Hyde Park and is part of the inner-city region. Oxford Street hosts Sydney's gay scene. The Sydney CBD contains many of Australia's tallest skyscrapers, including Governor Phillip Tower , 25 Martin Place and World Tower ,
8439-615: Was built from 1810 to 1927. Historically, it has also been known as Sydney Common , Government Domain , The Common , The Exercising Ground , Cricket Ground and Racecourse . Hyde Park is owned by the City of Sydney and the Land and Property Management Authority, an agency of the Government of New South Wales . It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 13 December 2011. It
8536-473: Was cleared for farming, which resulted in the destruction of Aboriginal food sources. This, combined with the introduction of new diseases such as smallpox , caused resentment within the Aboriginal clans against the British and resulted in violent confrontations. The oldest legislative body in Australia, the New South Wales Legislative Council , was created in Sydney in 1825 as an appointed body to advise
8633-680: Was completed in 1898 on the site of the old Sydney markets. In the midst of World War I , on Valentine's Day, riots racked the CBD, in what has come to be known as the Central Station Riots of 1916. A substantial segment of the violence was concentrated in the Central area. These riots involved five thousand military recruits who refused to comply with extraneous parade orders. During the riots, they caused significant damage to buildings. People with "foreign" names were especially targeted. The recruits clashed with soldiers, resulting in
8730-433: Was created in 1911 under order of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher . Its head office was designed by architect John Kirkpatrick , who was the cousin of the bank's governor. In August 1916, the building opened. The building was expanded with extensions designed by E.H. Henderson and F. Hill between 1929 and 1933 along Pitt Street, and in 1966 construction was begun on an annex facing Martin Place, completed in 1967. From 2012
8827-403: Was first a street of scattered small wattle and daub thatched houses, brush and grass trees. These were gradually replaced by more substantial houses in the next four decades. It became a fashionable residential street, with elegant terrace houses overlooking the maturing Hyde Park. The eastern boundary was not sharply defined when the Macquaries departed Sydney in 1821. A map of that year shows
8924-473: Was increasing public pressure to "improve" the park and plant it. By this time the influence of Scottish/English writer John Claudius Loudon and architect/gardener (later Sir) Joseph Paxton had reached the antipodes – the garden invaded the pleasure ground to form a "gardenesque" (Loudon's term) composition with each of Hyde Park's four quarters divided by a central walk and the whole park by Park Street. Incidents or features such as statues, fountains, ponds and
9021-467: Was inhabited by the Cadigal clan. The principal language groups were Darug , Guringai , and Dharawal . The modern history of the city began with the arrival of a First Fleet of British ships in 1788 and the foundation of a penal colony by Great Britain. The area surrounding Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) was home to several Aboriginal tribes. The " Eora people" are the coastal Aboriginal people of
9118-428: Was only a tiny rivulet which rose in marshy ground skirting the western slopes of the ground which later became Hyde Park. The seepage from the bed-joints of the underlying sandstone around the upper portion of its catchment, which headed about the centre of the park, filtered through the soil to form a definite channel near King and Pitt Streets. The area now occupied by Hyde Park was relatively flat, rising slightly along
9215-525: Was probably Australia's first prominent museum building, and faced the park. In the 1850s Hyde Park was a barren expanse of grass criss-crossed with paths and dirt tracks around its perimeter. This is clear in a c.1854 photograph taken from the Mint by mint-worker and amateur photographer William Stanley Jevons in the very early days of photography. In 1854 the Public Parks Act was passed and
9312-510: Was prominent in the English pre-Raphaelite movement and who spent several years in Australia. From 1878 to 1896 Sydney Botanic Gardens Director Charles Moore was appointed a trustee of Hyde Park. A Cook's pine tree ( Araucaria columnaris ) flanks the statue. In 1881 the Frazer Memorial Fountain, one of two donated to the city by merchant and MLC John Frazer (the second fountain is in the middle of Prince Albert Road at
9409-413: Was used as Sydney's racecourse from 1820 to 1821. < Whittaker adds that as well as being a popular cricket venue in the 1820s it was also popular for informal children's games. It was delineated only as a space at the end of Macquarie Street , where the military held parades, and townspeople cut firewood and carted off soil. It became a favourite place for cricket, a playground for local school boys,
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