Friday 14 October 2011

Millers Point, Sydney Observatory, flagstaff

This signal flagstaff is located at Sydney Observatory on Observatory Hill, at Millers Point. Observatory Hill is the highest point overlooking Sydney Harbour and has previously been known as Windmill Hill, Citadel Hill, Fort Phillip and Flagstaff Hill, describing its functions over time. This flagstaff was installed in June 2008 to commemorate the history of the site as a signal communication point, as part of Sydney Observatory’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Signal flags at Fort Phillip from 1810 announced the arrival of ships into Sydney Harbour and also informed port authorities of the names, origin and cargo of new arrivals. Weather and other information was also communicated by signal flags to ships in the harbour.

54 comments:

  1. Nice picture. The signal staff reminds me of a ship's mast.

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  2. Interesting post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  3. I thought from your thumbnail shot it was a tall ship. :)
    Lovely shot!

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  4. That is what I will call a beautiful blue sky!

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  5. Interesting that flags were used to make announcements!

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  6. What intense blue skies! The signal staff could be an exclamation point! Superb capture as always, Jim!

    Sylvia

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  7. Australian clear blue skies - well captured.

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  8. Amazing how sailors communicated by means of various flags. And it worked! We can hardly imagine how people could contact each other without mobile phones or e-mails.

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  9. Interesting information and what a bright and beautiful blue sky.

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  10. As always, an interesting view and information about your part of the world.

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  11. Impressive mean to measure time.


    Please have a good Friday.

    daily athens

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  12. Ahoy Pacific neighbor!


    Aloha from Waikiki;

    Comfort Spiral



    > < } } ( ° >

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  13. Do they still announce things with the flags, Jim? A beautiful tradition, and a super photo.

    Kay, Alberta, Canada
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  14. It is nice that this now stands as reminder of the complicated way of communicating!

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  15. Interesting information and a beautiful picture -- there's just something about flags flying against a bright blue sky~

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  16. Nice flagstaff,i think there is one in my place,in Penang.

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  17. Thanks for sharing some historical background, same with Carletta I thought it was a pirate ship haha.

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  18. the sky is so intensely blue - it's a fantastic capture. and a whole lot of history too. happy weekend to you, and happy SWF.

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  19. Kay, with modern communication methods there's no need to use flags to signal ships on the harbour these days but they still like to utilise the flagstaff and post messages using flags.

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  20. I went to the local sail club which is 5 minutes from home, they had the flagstaff but not too many flags.

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  21. How interesting! And another brilliant blue sky to die for!

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  22. What an interesting post, and a beautiful, colourful photo.

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  23. Hi there - we were looking at signal flags last week - only ours were at a light house on the coast of Victoria.

    Cheers Stewart M - Melbourne

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  24. Flag signalling a centuries old way of communicating, and who knows, one day if the Internet and other forms of communication fail worldwide, it may come to the fore again..!

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  25. Delicious, I love the light that you get.

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  26. Can't you send me a piece of this beautiful blue sky ??

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  27. Interesting place with so many associations.

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  28. t first glance it does remind me of a tallship. Great photo. Happy skywatching!

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  29. from the thumbnail I thought it was a ship, how interesting this form of communication.

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  30. What an interesting post..the photo is great! I always enjoy your posts. Thank you for stopping by my blog!
    Blessings,
    Shirley

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  31. Gattina, I'd put some of this blue sky in an envelope and post it to you, if I could. :) I guess we're lucky that we get some great blue skies.

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  32. Your sky is wonderful deep blue again.

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  33. Gorgeous blue sky! Wish you a great weekend!

    Irene

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  34. I love the pic. the blue sky shows a perfect time to enjoy the day outside

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  35. I was down at our local sailing club and was astonished at all the different flags they have. Have a nice weekend.

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  36. James, the lens I used is the Canon EF-S 18-55mm. I also use the EF-S 55-250mm.

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  37. Yeah I have that twin lens kit too (IS models). I am quite a newbie to the SLR world but I am loving those two lenses, pretty much does most of what I need.

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  38. James, I've only had my SLR camera and lenses for a year and am still learning a lot about how to get the best use out of them.

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Thanks for visiting my blog. Please leave me a message. Jim.

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