"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." RLS
Throughout the later part of the 19th century and into the 20th century the Hordern Family dominated the Sydney retail trade. Beginning with ‘Mrs Hordern’s’ drapery shop in 1823, Anthony Hordern and Sons soon became the largest department store in Sydney, with businesses in Europe, America and China. Continue reading “Hordern Drinking Fountain”
I don’t know why but I have always found it rather disconcerting that a war memorial be placed in a location more renowned for depravity and debauchery than commemoration of battles in distant lands. Placed in the centre of Kings Cross (affectionately referred to simply as The Cross), Sydney’s notorious red light district, it is hardly surprising that this memorial has become known locally as the elephant douche. Continue reading “The El Alamein Fountain”
If you visit Elizabeth Bay House (or even if you don’t, as it has very limited opening hours), a heritage property built for Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay in the 1830s, do pop across the road for a look at the delightfully manicured, though small, Arthur McElhone Reserve. Continue reading “Arthur McElhone Reserve”
It had been a number of years since I had visited the Australian Museum but I was recently drawn back, attracted by the fact that it was hosting a special exhibition, Trailblazers, honouring Australia’s 50 greatest explorers and because I had a museum pass, bought on a recent trip to Melbourne, which gave me free entry to museum’s permanent galleries. Continue reading “The Australian Museum”
Until 1967 Indigenous Australians did not have the right to vote and were not included in Australia’s census counts.
This effective non-recognition of Indigenous people as Australian citizens was particularly troublesome for the authorities when it came to them serving, or not, in the armed services. Continue reading “Yininmadyemi – Thou Didst Let Fall”
I have often wondered about the origin of this Obelisk. Surely it must be of some importance, standing grandly as it does at the top of Bathurst Street where it intersects with Elizabeth Street, on the edge of Hyde Park? Continue reading “Hyde Park Obelisk”
Running between the National Library and the High Court/National Gallery of Australia is an area of parkland given over to a series of artworks drawing on Aboriginal culture and history. Reconciliation Place, as the area is called, aims at reaffirming Australia’s shared history, from an Aboriginal perspective, and the nation’s commitment to reconciliation between Aboriginals and later settlers in Australia. Continue reading “The Path to Reconciliation”
Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology centre, is one of Canberra’s top attractions, much loved by children in particular though it offers plenty to stimulate the curiosity and interest of people of all ages. Continue reading “Questacon – Science In Action”
For good reason there are very strict rules as to what development and what retail activity is permitted on the shoreline of Lake Burley Griffin. This has resulted in very little development and, in the main, a totally unspoilt shoreline. All good.
Continue reading “Dom’s Coffee Bar: “Coffee by the Lake – Southside””
Enlighten is one thing I look forward to every year in Canberra and while the same buildings are lit up every year, beautifully I might add, the event has grown to be much more than this over the many years it has now been taking place. Leaving aside the fact that I live in Canberra, I think Enlighten is streets ahead of the much newer equivalent event in Sydney, Vivid. Don’t get me wrong I love Sydney’s offering too, particularly the way the Opera House is lit up (see my Sydney Vivid review for more detail on that event) but the compactness of the Canberra show makes it a winner for me. Continue reading “Enlighten – 2016”
The Rambling Wombat 