Hyde Park Obelisk
The Hyde Park Obelisk is an obelisk located on the western edge of Hyde Park. This monument, which was unveiled in 1857 by the Lord Mayor, George Thornton, was originally used as a sewerage vent, so was jokingly referred to as Thorton's Scent Bottle. It was built at the junction of Elizabeth Street and Bathurst Street because the sewage system was at its highest point here, although it is no longer used as a vent to avoid the risks of contamination. The monument is 22 metres high, including the 6.5 metre high square sandstone base and a filigreed bronze pyramid vent at the top. This obelisk was modelled on Cleopatra's Needle, on the banks of London's Thames River.
I always like obelisks and this one has also a nice story as a former... scent bottle!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the idea of a former "personality"???? And that is a sizable scent bottle indeed! Always enjoy the history along with your intense, blue skies!! Terrific capture as always, Jim! Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
How very interesting. I like the witty term Thornton's scent bottle, just wait until a "Jeannie" slips out!
ReplyDeleteLovely photo, but amazing and very unusual information!
ReplyDeletefunny nickname. i'd like take my photo there.
ReplyDeleteGrande !!!!
ReplyDeleteBuona serata e buon anno 2011 :)
Myriam
Very nice, very pretty! =)
ReplyDeleteHappy SWF! =)
Lord Mayors of Sydney like to leave something substantial behind as a memento of their time in office. There are 'things' scattered all over the city. Things and names ...
ReplyDeleteAlways good to see a monument of time. Makes me feel really small. The way you took it it looks a lot higher than 22 metres!
ReplyDeleteBTW: Happy New Year!
Terrence looks at the sky
How impressive a sight. Lifts certainly the look up to its top. Please have a good Friday.
ReplyDeletedaily athens
Julie, I have a view of this monument every day from my office window. I'm going to keep an eye out for more 'things and names', around the city.
ReplyDeleteHilarious story, Jim! So glad they don't do that any more.
ReplyDeleteBut I love love love that incredibly blue sky! It's just wonderful.
-- K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
Very interesting! A beautiful view of the sky, great capture!
ReplyDeleteEven the municipal 'scent bottle' is designed in an artistic fashion!
ReplyDeleteThy sky is incredibly blue.
I missed this sky so blue and so clear. Great capture!
ReplyDeleteWinter sky
Ah... No wonder it looks so similar to the one I see in London!
ReplyDeleteWe also have a park called Hyde Park in London!!
What a coincidence... Ha!
You Aussies have a great sense of humour! that is one humungous scent bottle (under a gorgeous blue sky!)
ReplyDeletenever been to sydney, but i will one day :)
ReplyDeleteI think that's the best looking vent you're shared with us yet! I love the 'scent bottle' joke :o)
ReplyDeleteA 22 meter sewer vent? The mind boggles!
ReplyDeleteSo it is possible to make a silk purse from a sow's ear!!! Lovely obelisk.
ReplyDeleteLondon Caller, the early settlers were not very original with a lot of place names or monuments in the new colonies. They often seemed desperate to recreate their so much of their homeland and culture even when sometimes it seemed to make no sense.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous blue sky! Sure different from our grey, cloudy skies!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on the obelisk! Quite a history to it.
Hope you had a great New year's.
The monument is so striking against the blue sky. You photographed it very well.
ReplyDeleteFascinating story about the obelisk. And it is pointing towards that wonderful blue sky!
ReplyDeleteNice monument. Gorgeous sky.
ReplyDeleteNeat
ReplyDeletelove the blue!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMy skywatch
I love how you include the sroty behind your shots JBar. Love the gorgeous colour of the sky :)
ReplyDeleteSorry! That should be 'story' :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous clear blue sky.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely makes me think immediately of the l'obelisque in the Place de la Concorde in Paris!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice sewer vent!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the picture, and the information!
i like the blue...congrats
ReplyDeletehttp://graceolsson.com/blog/2011/01/dark-day-in-sweden/
I first thought it was London, but this Hydepark is in Sydney! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't get any bluer than that, does it? Pardon my forwardness, but obelisks always strike me as a particularly male thing. I appreciate their use as sewage vents, though. :-)
ReplyDeleteas clear as a sky can be. :)
ReplyDeleteThe pretty blue sky makes the obelisk looks stunning...
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by :)
Interesting to learn the story behind the "scent bottle"!
ReplyDeletevery interesting post and a nice blue sky..have a great year
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot of that monument against the clear blue sky again.
ReplyDeleteInteresting monument with a beautiful blue sky background.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend.
Yoshi
HAHAHAHA!!! Thorton's Scent Bottle!
ReplyDeleteTrés amusant!
It was a sewage vent? How utterly anti-climactic. Poor obelisk, I bet it wishes it had a more august lineage LOL.
ReplyDelete-----------------------------------
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Beautiful, the obelisk against the sky.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha..."Thornton's Scent Bottle." I'm sure the surrounding community appreciates that sewage smells no longer waft over them! Great capture!
ReplyDeletegreat capture with an interesting story to tell, thanks for sharing with Sky Watch Friday
ReplyDeleteAn awesome shot of that tower surrounded by the beautiful blue sky. Very nicely done.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness...that is a tall obelisk! It's beautiful...especially with that blue sky behind it! Just lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful monument. Love that clear blue sky.
ReplyDeletePaging Dr. Freud
ReplyDeleteAloha from Hawaii
Comfort Spiral
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Wow... look at our Earth... snowy here and blue skies, sunshine and leafy trees in Sydney!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing all that info! :)
ReplyDelete