Alfords Point, sunset

Amazing Autumn skies at sunset over bushland in the southern suburb of Alfords Point, viewed from Lugarno.

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Monterey, monument

This monument is located in Cook Park at Monterey, close to the shore of Botany Bay. It was erected in 1970 to commemorate the Bicentennary of Captain Cook discovering the east coast of Australia on the 29th April 1770, so that makes today the 240th anniversary. The plaque describes this monument as an obelisk, which seems a bit strange to me because I always thought an obelisk had to be a pointed pillar.

Kogarah, water feature

This water feature runs almost the entire length of Kogarah Town Square. The water rises from these three fountains which spill into a pool. The water cascades down a number of terraces and drains into a spiral among grasses. It was installed around the time that the square opened in 2005. On the 28th March 2009, a memorial plaque was installed dedicated to International Workers Memorial Day. Today is a day that workers, union, families and communities remember and mourn those who have been killed or injured at work and fight for the living.

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Mascot war memorial

The Mascot war memorial is located in Memorial Park in the eastern suburb of Mascot. It was established in 1920 and dedicated in grateful memory of fallen heroes in World War 1. It features an emblematical shield and palms of victory in electro bronze and a polished grey granite column supporting the Orb of the Empire, embellished with bronze mountings and Victoria Cross. The wreaths at the base of the memorial have been laid to commemorate Anzac Day, which was a day of commemoration in Australia and New Zealand this past Sunday.

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Rookwood, Sydney War Cemetery

This war memorial is located at the entrance of the Sydney War Cemetery. It honours the World War 2 servicemen who died in New South Wales and whose ashes were scattered or who rest in places where full commemoration could not be given.

Rookwood, Sydney War Cemetery, Anzac Day

The Sydney War Cemetery is adjacent to the Garden of Rememberance at Rookwood Necropolis. It has the graves of service personnel who died during Word War 2, or soon after. The Cross of Sacrifice identifies British Commonwealth war cemeteries across the world. Today is Anzac Day, which commemorates those who have served and died in wars. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and the date marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Anzac forces during the First World War at Gallipoli, Turkey. At commemorations and services such as those held on Anzac Day we say 'Lest We Forget' or in other words 'so that we should not forget'.

Carlton, war memorial

The Kogarah war memorial is located beside Jubilee Oval in the southern suburb of Kogarah. It was established in 1919 and dedicated to the Naval and Army Corps involved in World War 1. It was originally located on Gray Street at nearby Kogarah but was moved to this reserve to accomodate a wider road there. Tomorrow is Anzac Day, which is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorating those who served and died for their countries.

Kogarah Bay, sunset

 A new crescent moon over the southern suburb of Kogarah Bay.

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Botany, pubs

These two pubs are located on Botany Road, in the eastern suburb of Botany. The Captain Cook Hotel was built in 1906 in the Federation period, Arts and Craft style. It was renovated in 2007 but most of its heritage elements, especially the exterior, were maintained. The Waterworks Hotel was formerly known as the Endeavour Hotel. It was originally built in 1930 and was totally renovated in 2008. The name comes from the Sydney Waterworks which were established in Botany in 1858 and supplied water to Sydney until 1886 from the many springs in this area.

Botany, wetlands

Mill Pond is part of the wetlands in the eastern suburb of Botany. This view is from the bridge on Botany Road. By the 1850s the colony's streams became clogged and polluted, so the government turned to Botany to supply Sydney with water. From 1859 to 1886, water from the Botany Swamps was pumped to the city and surrounding suburbs. Over time, tanneries, wool scourers, fellmongers and boiling down works all drained the natural swamp. By 1869, the area was no longer considered to be a reliable source of water and the Nepean water scheme took over.

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Rookwood, pavilion

Rookwood Necropolis is the largest multicultural cemetery in the southern hemisphere. Anglican, General, Independent, Jewish and Muslim Trusts are the custodians of this site to provide burial and commemoration services. This is the Chinese World War 2.

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Rookwood, Quong Sin Tong Monument

The Quong Sin Tong Monument at Rookwood Cemetery dates back to 1877. This shrine was originally in the centre of the Chinese section and used by the community as a shrine for funeral ceremonial purposes. Quong Sin Tong was one of the earliest Chinese societies in the state of New South Wales. Up until the 1950s, the society helped with the exhumation of Chinese graves from Rookwood Cemetery for reburial in China, in accordance with the beliefs and practices of the community. In 2008 restoration work saw it returned as close as possible to its original condition. Work included carving of a new sandstone urn, replacing the rusted fencing and repairs to the historic moat and entrance steps.

For a photo of what it looked like before restoration see here.

Rookwood, horse fountain

This horse fountain is in the middle of scenic Rookwood Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, in the western suburb of Rookwood. A couple of rainbow lorikeets an be seen here taking a bath at the top of the fountain.

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Rookwood, mausoleum

The Frazer Mausoleum is the largest monument in Rookwood Cemetery and was completed in 1894. John Frazer emigrated to Australia from Ireland, with his brother James, in 1842. From humble beginnings, he made John Frazer & Co. into one of the most influential mercantile houses in Sydney. He died in 1884, leaving an estate of 405,000 pounds. The nearby John Paul Family Vault can be seen here. 

Rookwood, power lines

These high voltage power lines and towers run through the middle of Rookwood Cemetery. Similar towers dominated the skyline through nearby Homebush Bay until about ten years ago. When it was transformed into Olympic Park for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the unsightly structures were replaced with underground cables. There hasn't been a need to the same with the rest of those lines which run through this cemetery. The brilliant sky above last weekend made them look slightly less unsightly. Also, some good clouds in the cemetery post below.

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Rookwood Necropolis

Rookwood Necropolis is the largest multicultural cemetery in the southern hemisphere, covering an area of over 300 hectares. It has been operating since 1867 and it has been estimated that approximately one million people have been buried here. The main entrance is along Victoria Street, in the western suburb of Rookwood. There are many impressive old monuments, gravestones and family vaults which can be seen here.

Rookwood, fountain

I was quite surprised to see that they had built a large cafe at the entrance to Rookwood Cemetery on my recent visit. I've never seen anything like that in a cemetery before but I suppose it's a way to make these places more inviting and is also used for funeral functions and memorials. This combined florist and cafe also features a courtyard with an ornamental fountain.

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Rookwood, sculpture

Rookwood Necropolis is one of the largest cemeteries in the southern hemisphere. Hidden: A Rookwood Sculpture Walk is an art exhibition on the Rememberence Lawn until 18th April 2010. It is now in its second year and features the works of 24 artists in response to the Rookwood site. The artists explore themes of death, grief and their own personal connection to the site. The Rookwood Anglican and General Cemetery Trusts organises the exhibition to draw people into the cemetery but some visitors feel it is an inappropriate venue for an art show.

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The Rocks, Cadman's Cottage

Cadman's Cottage, is one of the few buildings that remain from the early period of the first European settlement at Sydney Cove. It was built in 1816 as the Coxswain’s Barracks, at what was then the water's edge, attached to Governor Macquarie’s dockyard and stores. John Cadman took up residence here in 1827 as Superintendent of Government Craft. From 1845-64, it was the Sydney Water Police Headquarters, and from 1865-1970, the Sydney Sailors’ Home Trust. The plain Georgian architecture was copied from English pattern books and was part of an attempt to build 'respectable' government buildings in the new colony. It was restored in 1972 and is now used as a museum.

Sydney Opera House, sunset

The Sydney Opera House before sunset.

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Opera House, bench

A bench at the Overseas Passenger Terminal where you can enjoy the views across Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour. A stage for an outdoor performance in front of the Sydney Opera House steps is under construction. I was inspired by the 'A Bunch of Benches' blog.

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Tempe, Cooks River, sunset

The view across the Cooks River at sunset from Tempe towards the southern suburb of Wolli Creek. I took two photos a few minutes apart and I couldn't decide which one I liked better because one had more colourful reflections in the water, while the other had more colours in the sky. The other photo can be seen here.

 Linked to: Skywatch Friday

Kogarah, shop and house

Many of the old houses and shops in the southern suburb of Kogarah have been demolished in recent years to make way for more higher density developments such as apartments, commercial and office space or the expanding hospitals and schools in this area. Luckily, on the Princes Highway, this shop and residence with a bit of character has survived. It currently houses Monetarium, a dealer in rare coins and banknotes.

Ramsgate Beach, baths

Ramsgate Baths are in the southern suburb of Ramsgate Beach. These timbers and bars are all that remain of the old Ramsgate Baths constructed in 1950 and demolished in 1973. A larger enclosure, incorporated the southern side of these baths in 1975. Most of it was replaced in 1999 by a floating net structure, consisting of plastic tubes and mesh netting, weighed down by chains. This part of Botany Bay has been used for public sea-water bathing since 1924 with the original Ramsgate Baths tidal pool also known as Pemberton's Baths.

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North Willoughby, pub

The Willoughby is a magnificent pub in the northern suburb of North Willoughby. This hotel was built in 1899 in the Federation style and a major restoration was undertaken in 1988. A lot of pubs and bars in Australia are called hotels because originally they also provided accommodation.
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Willoughby, St Stephen's Anglican Church

St Stephen's Anglican Church is located on the corner of Mowbray Road and Sydney Street, in the northern suburb of Willoughby. This sandstone church was designed by Edmund Blackett and his brother Arthur, who designed many churches and public buildings around Sydney. It was built in 1882 from locally quarried sandstone by stonemason Alexander Simpson.

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Lidcombe, St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church

St Andrew's Ukrainian Catholic Church is located in Church Street, in the western suburb of Lidcombe.

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Dulwich Hill, Catholic Church

The Church of the Immaculate Conception and St Paul of the Cross is a Catholic church located on New Canterbury Road, in the inner west suburb of Dulwich Hill. The church, built in 1925, was designed by Austin Mackay in the Romanesque Revival style.

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Ramsgate Beach, supermarket, Easter

In an effort to find a photo around Sydney with an Easter theme, I noticed that even though people in Australia make such an effort to decorate everything for Christmas, they barely do anything for Easter. The best I could find is this over the top commercial attempt to convince everyone that the hunt for Easter value is over at Coles supermarket at Ramsgate Beach.

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Dawes Point, artwork (Theme Day: Red)

 This is not an April Fools Day joke. This piece of artwork (above) in the middle of a roundabout is located in Hickson Road at Dawes Point. I thought this poor little red car crushed by a boulder was a perfect selection for the red theme day and I also managed to capture a red mini passing the roundabout. The artist, Jimmie Durham, created "Still Life With Stone and Car" in 2004. The work is only a 'stones throw' away from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Pier One. If you a closer look in the background you can see one of the yellow signs here that read "Artwork Ahead" and "End Artwork" (below), in the style of the signs around the city that usually say "Roadwork Ahead" and "End Roadwork". This piece of artwork is known as "Artwork", created by Richard Tipping in 2004.
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