Saturday, December 31, 2011

Oprah House Danger


After Oprah's visit I think the Sydney Opera House needed some work.
If they dig deep enough they will find a big pile of oyster shells, there were mountains of them when the First Fleet arrived in 1788.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Department of Agriculture Building


Department of Agriculture Building, this is the southern end of the Department of Education Building. Designed by Government architect George MacRae. Made of yellow sandstone from quarries in Pyrmont, Ultimo, the Sydney CBD, Paddington, Bondi and Maroubra.
The second stage was built between 1928 and 1930. The palms in the forecourt are Cabbage Tree Palms, native but not original. Great material for the early settlers and convicts who wove the sinewy fronds into straw hats.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Commonwealth War Cemetery Portianos Lemnos Greece



This cemetery is located on the small beautiful Greek Island of Lemnos in the North-west Aegean, close to the Turkish mainland. In 1915 this island was used as the base for the Gallipoli campaign.
Enclosed by a stone wall, it is immaculately tended by a local farmer. The cemetery was designed by Scottish architect, Sir John Burnet. Inside lie soldiers from UK (261), Australia (50), NZ (29), Newfoundland (3), and Canada (2).

Here is a 'Then and now' not by me but from here.



This is part of a new blog project. Julie's Taphophile Tuesday's Have a look here.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

North Bilgola Lookout


There was a sea mist rolling in yesterday afternoon. I didn't like to intrude on this person's meditation.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Avalon Beach Ocean Pool


Many beaches are closed today due to big seas, however some hardy souls are swimming in the Avalon Beach ocean pool.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Captain Arthur Phillip


In 1788, this man, Arthur Phillip, captain of the First Fleet, aged 49 years, raised the flag for England and christened Sydney Cove. His nose, seen in shadow, was described as a 'French philosopher's nose'. The son of a German schoolteacher he rose through the ranks to become a founder of this nation and the first Governor. He was plagued by problems in the early colony and returned to England after 4 years into obscurity. His life unbearable, an invalid, rolled through an upper storey window in his wheelchair to his death.
Here he is placed, hidden from sight on Manly's Corso, in an alcove on an upper floor of a residential development, he is looking South towards the place he was speared by an Aboriginal.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

David Jones Silent Night


Twas the night before ... again outside the David Jones store in the city.
Happy Christmas everyone, I hope you all have a joyous day.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

David Jones Table Setting


Getting ready for Christmas lunch? At our Christmas on the menu is: falafel, sausage rolls, prawns, ham, and pudding.

Friday, December 23, 2011

North Bilgola Lookout

This is my destination when I go for a morning walk along The Serpentine to North Bilgola Lookout.


Looking south toward Sydney - 35km away.


Looking north to Bangalley Head at Avalon. Note that some lowlife has stolen the brass plate with all the topographic features on it.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Wishing Well Fountain Macquarie Street


Good to see people reading outside at lunch. This'fro headed young man was 'chillaxing' by the fountain.

"The Wishing Well Fountain for the NSW Society for Crippled Children outside the Palace Garden Gate was designed by architect Professor Peter Spooner, 1963. The pool and fountainhead were by Public Works Department NSW in association with Phill & K.V. Taranto Architects, 1988." Royal Botanic Gardens website.

For a beautiful night shot of this fountain click on to this link of a more talented Sydney photographer: Wishing Well Fountain at night.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

While sheperds watched their flocks


The David Jones Christmas display, loved by old and young.
'There's no other store like David Jones" the tune written by Graeme Bond (Aunty Jack) for his old girlfriend, when she left him he used the tune for this advertisement.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Assange, Mawson and Corby


Three famous Australians who were lined up together on this bookstand.
Who would you like to have a cup of tea with?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Beach Volleyball Manly Beach


The broad golden sands of Manly Beach, where there are nets set up permanently for volleyball enthusiasts.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Doctor at Large Flying Book


Revisiting the Galeries Victoria where there are 900 flying books hanging from the ceiling. The Doctor at Large book caught my eye.

Friday, December 16, 2011

The Residence Hyde Park Street Art


The latest shiny new high rise apartments are on the corner of College and Stanley Streets, opposite Hyde park. This associated sculpture is on that corner. It used to be the old Police Headquarters where Roger Rogerson reigned.

Please enjoy the florid prose from their web site:

"An island of excellence on the leafy oasis ...

a beacon for the future...

vividly alive with the charisma of Sydney's beating heart.

A place in history... a place in time..."

Thursday, December 15, 2011

The Arrival


Book set against the backdrop of a rainy day Sydney and Town Hall.

"The Arrival is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images that might seem to come from a long forgotten time. A man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean."

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

David Jones Christmas Window Display



Every year the department store, David Jones, has a window display of moving puppets on a Christmas theme. The display is designed by puppeteer David Poulton, he said it took five artists six months to create the mechanical puppet theatre displays and a couple of weeks to install them.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Flying Books





Inside The Galeries Victoria are these flying books, according to their website: "There are over 900 novels, donated by Random House beneath The Galeries ceiling. This cascading chandelier of novels is our way of celebrating literary genius and you’ll also find quotes from literary legends displayed throughout The Galeries."

Monday, December 12, 2011

No 1 Bligh Street


Sydney's newest skyscraper, very environmentally friendly I'm told.

Located at the corner of Bent and O'Connell Streets at the top of the broad curving steps of 1 Bligh's entrance is a new public artwork titled 'Day In, Day Out', created by Australian artist James Angus.

'The sculpture is a complex network of three-dimensional ellipsoidal surfaces drawn from shapes expressed in the design of the building. The form is enhanced by a brightly painted colour scheme which traces the underlying geometry.'

I think that means its funky. Any thoughts?

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Turbulence





In summer, when it arrives, kids like to jump into this wash created by the ferry.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Reflection on War


This is a puddle reflection (flipped) of The Offerings of War from outside the NSW Art Gallery, on a cold, wet December day. The coldest start to summer in 50 years.


Said puddle.

See other Weekend Reflections

Friday, December 9, 2011

Detail from Offerings of Peace


Cast in 1926 this statue is outside the NSW Art Gallery.
Peace offers the Arts and Plenty.
These are represented by Greek comic and tragic masks as shown here.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Picasso at the Art Gallery


The latest exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery, has anyone seen it?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Tranquil Lake


Lake Macquarie from Wangi Wangi.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Australian Christmas Tree


This Banksia is named after Sir Joseph Banks, botanist on Captain Cook's ship Endeavour in 1770. It even has its own Christmas decorations.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Manly Ferry approaches


Nothing beats catching a ferry to work on a warm summer day. I am usually bad at waiting but for some reason don't mind waiting for the ferry.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Pelican + Man


Narrabeen Lake a popular fishing spot for man and bird. What happens when he catches a fish?

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Nautilus Shell Sculpture Manly Wharf


This sculpture at Manly Wharf has an unfortunate nickname.

It features a 7 metre nautilus shell with 32 mist nozzles creating clouds of cooling water. At night, the mist is lit from the nozzles by fibre optics in a ring of blue neon light. Designed by Urban Art Projects and installed in 2000 it is cast aluminium.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Waiting for the Manly Ferry


“Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care”.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Get fit


Resting between situps, phew!