Hyde Park Barracks, Irish Famine Memorial

The Australian Monument to the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) is located at the Hyde Park Barracks, along Macquarie Street. The Hyde Park Barracks were originally built to house male convicts in 1818 but were adapted in 1848 to house refugees. The monument commemorates a special emigration scheme designed to resettle over 4,000 destitute girls from the workhouses of Ireland in Australia between 1848 and 1850. This memorial features a dislocated sandstone wall and two glass panels inscribed with the names of 400 of these girls. A table cast in bronze, split in two on either side of the wall, has a simple table with a bowl on one end and a simple institutional table setting with utensils on the other end. It represents an element of continuity and a link between the two sides of the lives of those who immigrated.

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Hyde Park Barracks, Irish Famine Memorial

The Australian Monument to the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) is located at the Hyde Park Barracks, along Macquarie Street. The Hyde Park Barracks were originally built to house male convicts in 1818 but were adapted in 1848 to house refugees. The monument commemorates a special emigration scheme designed to resettle over 4,000 destitute girls from the workhouses of Ireland in Australia between 1848 and 1850. This memorial features a dislocated sandstone wall and two glass panels inscribed with the names of 400 of these girls. A table cast in bronze, split in two on either side of the wall, has a simple table with a bowl on one end and a simple institutional table setting with utensils on the other end. It represents an element of continuity and a link between the two sides of the lives of those who immigrated.

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Hyde Park Barracks

The Hyde Park Barracks is at the southern end of Macquarie Street. The building was designed by colonial architect Francis Greenway and constructed by the convict labour between 1818 and 1819. It was the principal barracks for male convicts in the state of New South Wales, providing lodgings for convicts working in government employment around Sydney. From 1848 it was a dormitory for newly arrived female immigrants. From 1887 to 1979, state government offices were based here and today it is a museum operated by the Historic Houses Trust.

Hyde Park Barracks, Macquarie Night Lights

Hyde Park Barracks featured Christmas Projections, the light show on heritage buildings in Macquarie Street known as Macquarie Night Lights. A daytime view of the barracks can be seen here.

Hyde Park Barracks

A view from the cafe in the grounds of Hyde Park Barracks, located along Macquarie Street. This heritage listed building was designed by colonial architect Francis Greenway and constructed by the convict labour between 1818 and 1819. It was the principal barracks for male convicts in the state of New South Wales, working in government employment around Sydney. From 1848 it was a dormitory for newly arrived female immigrants. From 1887 to 1979, state government offices were based here and today it is a museum operated by Sydney Living Museums.

Linked to: Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Pictorial Tuesday, Travel Tuesday.

Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Vivid Sydney, Macquarie Visions

Hyde Park Barracks Museum on Macquarie Street featured light projections as part of Macquarie Visions at this year's Vivid Sydney Festival. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Lachlan Macquarie’s tenure as Governor of New South Wales. Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth instilled a feeling of hope in the inhabitants of the new colony and along with it, the belief that an opportunity existed for a second chance at life. The theme of this display was 'Fair Go', featuring a fusion of historical photographs and modern images documenting themes of recognition, emancipation, achievement, humanity, hope, a helping hand and a vision for the future.

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Queen's Square, Hyde Park Barracks

'Living Colour' is a summer floral display around the city and inner city suburbs. This floral pyramid is located at Queen's Square, in front of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. The spires of St Mary's Cathedral can be seen in the distance.

Linked to: Skywatch Friday, Floral Friday Foto.

Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Lights of Christmas

Hyde Park Barracks Museum on Macquarie Street is currently featuring Lights of Christmas, a light projection show running from 8th December to 25th December. The show which celebrates Christmas is designed to complement the building’s historic sandstone canvas, with designs inspired by its architecture and showcasing its features.

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Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Snailovation

These giant yellow snail sculptures have been located in Queen's Square, in front of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. Snailovation are brightly coloured snails that were created by the Cracking Art Group. They were installed on city streets and in parks as part of Art and About Sydney, a festival of art in unusual places which ran until yesterday.

Linked to: Monday Mellow Yellows, Blue Monday.

Hyde Park Barracks, Noël Sydney

Hyde Park Barracks along Macquarie Street, featured these light projections, as part of the Noël Sydney Christmas Festival held in Macquarie Street and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
Linked to: Weekend Reflections, Monday Mural.

Macquarie Street, Australia Day, CARnivale

The Australia Day CARnivale is an annual event organised by Supercar d’Elegance collaborated with the Australia Day Council NSW. This 1949 Ford Anglia Tourer was one of the cars displayed on Macquarie Street outside the Hyde Park Barracks Museum yesterday. The event, also known as a Concours d’Elegance, is a gathering of prestigious vehicles which extends into nearby streets and surrounding precincts.

Linked to: Monday Mellow Yellows, Blue Monday.

Queen's Square, Living Colour

'Living Colour' is a summer extravaganza of floral displays around the city and inner city suburbs. These flowers and plants are located at Queen's Square, in front of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. The floral arrangements feature blue and white salvia, spearmint, purple sage and lavender, curly parsley and lettuce, purple, white and red petunias and red begonias.

Linked to: Floral Friday Foto, Friday My Town.

Macquarie Street, Vivid Sydney

These blue lighthouses were installed throughout the city as part of the Macquarie Visions displays during the Vivid Sydney festival. Governor Lachlan Macquarie commissioned Australia’s first lighthouse in 1816 at South Head to guide ships to the new colony and emerging trading town of Sydney. He was so impressed with the design of what is now known as the Macquarie Lighthouse that he granted convict architect Francis Greenway his freedom. He went on to build many impressive Sydney buildings as Government Architect. This replica lighthouse (left) was located in Macquarie Street, close to the Hyde Park Barracks museum. The red illuminated traffic cones (right) provided a balance further down Macquarie Street, outside Parliament House.

Oatley town clock

The town clock in Frederick Street at Oatley was dedicated by the community in 1983. The suburb was named after James Oatley senior, the convict watch-maker who was granted a conditional pardon. He owned a watch shop in George Street in the city and was appointed as overseer of the Town Clock for his work installing the clock at Hyde Park Barracks. He received several land grants in this area that were inherited by his son Frederick, who also went into the family business and took over his father's watch shop.

Queen's Square, Taronga Wild! Rhinos

This is my last look at the "Taronga Wild! Rhinos" public art exhibition which was located around the city from February to April. "Chupa Chups" was created by Rain Hart, inspired by a a strong tribal feel. It was located in Queen's Square, in front of the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, near St Mary's Cathedral. All the rhinos will be on display at The Star casino in Pyrmont from 10th May and will be auctioned off on 14th May to raise funds for Taronga Zoo’s Black Rhino breeding program and conservation projects.

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