When the owners of one of Sydney’s most beautiful buildings, the Queen Victoria Building, decided to renovate it in the mid 1980s they sought a suitable statue to place at the main entrance. What could fit the bill better than a statue of Queen Victoria herself? Continue reading “Queen Victoria – Transported from Ireland”
World-wide, Freemasonry has always been and remains shrouded in mystique. How can this be for an organisation some 300+ years old (with roots back to trade organisations in the 1400s) with a current membership of around six million? Are Freemasons latter day Knights Templar? What do the handshakes mean? Why the regalia and other symbolism? Do they really run the United States and other countries? Continue reading “Museum of Freemasonry”
The Sydney Metropolitan Fire Brigade was established in 1884 though the City of Sydney Fire Station didn’t open until 1887 when it became Station No 2. Station. No 1, and thus the brigade’s headquarters, opened in 1886 in the western suburb of Marrickville. Continue reading “City Of Sydney Fire Station”
Located within, though not part of, the Grace Hotel, Vapiano was an easy option for me as I was staying at the hotel.
This is an excellent Italian restaurant following a concept with which I was not familiar, outside a reasonably upmarket food court I had eaten at in Beijing. Continue reading “Vapiano – King Street: “Worked For Me””
If I were to pick a single hotel in Sydney as a favourite (taking cost into account) the Grace Hotel would be it. Continue reading ““Great Location” – Grace Hotel”
It’s funny that in a city with countless options for lovely cafes one (or is it just me?) seems to gravitate to old familiar places.
For me Dymocks Café is one of those old familiar places to which I seem to return time and time again. This pleasant and unpretentious café is located in the city centre’s largest bookstore (Dymocks) which, in itself, is a major draw card for me. Continue reading “Dymocks Cafe: “A Hidden Treasure””
Wandering around Sydney or indeed any city or town in Australia the evident dearth of bookshops must surely make visitors wonder if Australians can read.
Well, in the main, we can, but reading is not the major pastime it is in the cooler climes of Europe. Australians are more at home on the beach or at a footie match than sitting by the fire or tucked up in bed with a book. Continue reading “Oh, behave! – Abbey’s Bookshop”
I do try to eke out the unusual when I visit somewhere but I must say that I did not expect to come across a Victorian filigree, cast iron, pissoir in Sydney. For those unfamiliar with the French term ‘pissoir’ it translates to a men’s urinal – though I do feel that when you translate it you somewhat vulgarise the artistic nature of the object. Continue reading “Sydney’s Last Victorian Pissoir”
Despite a faux pas (Australians have a different term for this but as I don’t seek to offend the ears of my Gentle Reader I won’t record it here) I can highly recommend this quaint and cosy tea rooms/ café in The Rocks. Continue reading “The Tea Cosy: “Hope they forget about you!””
The rusty old bicycle, cable-tied to a lamp post, at the lower end of George Street on the approach to the markets from Circular Quay belies the fact that The Rocks Markets is Australia’s preeminent tourist market and a Sydney Institution. Continue reading “Souvenirs at The Rocks”
The Rambling Wombat 