The First Fleet Bicentennial Monument stands in Cook Park, on the foreshore of Botany Bay, in the southern suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands. It was sculpted in bronze by Victor Cusack in 1988 to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet in Botany Bay in 1788 and the first Europeans settlers in Australia. The names of all those new arrivals are engraved on this monument flanked by a couple of old cannons. There were originally four cannons located here in 1900 from the navy vessel HMS Wolverine, built in 1863 and flagship of the Australian Squadron 1876-1881. One of those cannons now stands outside the Rockdale City Council administration building and another cannon is south along the bay at Sans Souci.
Quite a distinctive monument.
ReplyDeleteA nice tribute to our fallen soldiers. What a great outlook!
ReplyDeleteNot soldiers this time, Liz, but the first European settlers in Australia.
DeleteOh, darn! That will teach me not to write blog comments at 2am!!
DeleteLove your explanation of the monument. It looks cold there, though. Not sure what season you are in right now.
ReplyDeleteIt's Autumn, Electra which is why there aren't many people having a swim at the beach. Although we are having a very mild Autumn so far.
DeleteGreat idea to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet in Botany Bay in 1788 and to name our first Europeans settlers. But what are the guns for?
ReplyDeleteI just found some information about the history of the cannons with HMS Wolverine, Hels, so added it to the post and have provided links for more info.
DeleteFrom your photos I can't help but believe that Sydney is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
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Nice monument, and the locale cannot be beat!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the information about the monument!
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful memory! Many thanks for being a part of SEASONS this week! Jim, whenever convenient, please add Seasons' meme to your list in the post as well, so others can see it - thanks in advance! Looking forward to see your next week's image - yours are always so interesting:) Enjoy this week ~
ReplyDeleteDone. :)
DeleteSo thankful for all the sacrifices made by the men and woman of all the wars who give us the freedoms we enjoy.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelingbugwiththreeboys-kelleyn.blogspot.com/2016/04/growing-up.html
A very nice looking monument. I like the old canons.
ReplyDeleteNice place !
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to display they names. It's a very serene place.
ReplyDeletea lovely monument.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this in Sydney, Jim. Must go and have a close look when I am next there.
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating in the Travel Tuesday meme.