Botanic Gardens, A Folly for Mrs Macquarie
"A Folly for Mrs Macquarie" is a sculpture in the Royal Botanic Gardens with breathtaking views of Farm Cove and Sydney Harbour. In architecture, a folly is an extravagant decorative structure designed more for artistic expression than practicality. The Royal Botanic Gardens were developed from 1816 under the direction of Elizabeth Macquarie, the second wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. This work was created by Fiona Hall and installed in 2000 at the possible site of an original folly which looks across to Mrs Macquaries Point. Constructed from wrought iron and sandstone, it makes a statement about the follies of white settlement. It depicts a raised arm and clasped dagger from Macquarie's crest, a domed roof of metal Norfolk Island Pine fronds and an underlying, a ceiling of bones representing the animals that once lived in this area, barbed wire walls and an entrance bounded by an axe and scythe.
Interesting gazebo. I bet they have lots of wedding photos there....
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they do, but only 3 people can fit inside at any one time!
Deletethat is very cool looking ..love to take photos of it myself:))
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful, it must be nice to walk about having the wonerful view as well! Nice day to you! :)
ReplyDeleteI never knew about follies. That one is certainly both a decorative sculpture as well as social commentary.
ReplyDeleteBello questo gazebo !!!
ReplyDeleteinteresting sculpture and it makes beautiful shadows. it reminds me of a bird-house at a friend's garden.:p
ReplyDeleteJBar: Very cool capture of the structure.
ReplyDeleteI tried to form a post about this piece ages ago but being fond of detail as I am, I could not get the images to gel. Seeing it as part of its landscape is a fine solution. It is a very aggressive piece in a very peaceful setting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sculpture set in a very nice scenery. Congratulations on your photo.
ReplyDeletegreetings
Beautiful sculpture ... must be a great place to visit.
ReplyDeleteHappy WW :o)
What a wonderful view one must have, while enjoying a cup of black tea ... Beautiful indeed.
ReplyDeletePlease have a good Wednesday.
daily athens
This is a beautiful setting for such an ornate piece of art with a story to tell. Thank you for sharing this homage to history.
ReplyDeleteI don't recognise that one although I must have seen it. Probably done my usual tick and walked past with my eyes shut.
ReplyDeleteOn the Art and About website I came across a link to the Foto Reisel Foto Rally on Saturday 16 October which looks like fun. Its a photo challenge where you don't find out the route or the challenge until the start. $10 registration.
http://www.fotoriesel.com.au/News/News/foto-rally-faq.php
How interesting! I like the picture and enjoyed reading about it, too.
ReplyDeletethat is so interesting! thanks for the info about it.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking! La
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the information I was going to ask what a folly is...and it's right in front of me!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful place to relax and view the gorgeous scenery! I was thinking this gazebo would be lovely with some flowers growing through it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing another feature from our great country. I really enjoy visiting to see what you find for us. This is the only way I will ever get to see such sights.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Love to visit there one day. I haven't been in this side of the Botanic Gardens yet. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful spot and photo.
ReplyDeleteLovely - I never heard folly used in quite that way.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteMY Watery Wednesday Post
JBar,
ReplyDeleteVery strange but intriguing. Thanks for explaining the construction of it...love seeing your city.
~Jean
It's so beautiful! Interesting information too. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful view (and great photo), but the folly seems stragely bare! Maybe its a modern version - but then the design seems to favour the older style ... so call me a recidivist, but where are the climbing roses??!!
ReplyDeleteRed Nomad Oz, it certainly looks like a contemporary style to me considering the odd elements the artist used in the design like barbed wire, the axe, the scythe and the bones.
ReplyDeleteThank You for Your visit in my Bordeaux Town!
ReplyDeleteYour Blog is very rich in great photography and an instructive information...
Best Regards .
. PHILIPPE .
Wonderful shot my friend! Thanks for always dropping by my site! Greetings!
ReplyDeletewell taken. Love the folly!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot. Interesting post. I enjoyed reading about its construction
ReplyDeleteinteresting! thanks for all the info. great captures!
ReplyDeleteLike a fancy bird cage ... but what a nice place to be caged in for a while.
ReplyDeleteNice shot.
ReplyDeleteits my first time see the place and it's in your blog. thanks for sharing the info and the photo.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the birds? had some vandals cut a hole in the cage? LOL
ReplyDeleteHmmm, it does look a bit like a giant birdcage.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great park though. Isn't there a stone formation called Mrs. Macquarie's Chair in that park?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to sit down and read a book!
ReplyDeleteI like the rhyme.
ReplyDeleteVery nice shots and one more piece of culture!
ReplyDeleteIt seems such a nice place to walk about and relax;o)
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Thanks for sharing*******
great
ReplyDeleteThat's right, Bill. Mrs Macquarie's Chair sits at the end of Mrs Macquaries Point, which is part of the view in the first shot.
ReplyDeleteLovely Jim. If you ask me, the world could use more follies!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics...love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by