The Argyle Cut

This passage was hand cut by convict labour, a shortcut between The Rocks east and west side. TThe Cut was begun with convict labour in 1843 to provide direct easy access between Millers Point and The Rocks but was not completed until 1859, with the use of explosives and council labour.

Hangmans Hill Essex Street

Hangmans Hill.

Irishman John White, surgeon-general of the First Fleet, was impressed with the forger Thomas Barrett, who sailed with him in the convict transport Charlotte. On 5 August 1787, as the ship lay at anchor off Rio de Janeiro, Barrett was caught passing forged 'quarter dollars' to local boatmen to pay for food. White was amazed at how Barrett had managed to manufacture these coins without seemingly having had any access to fire or the other equipment necessary for coin-making. Perhaps it was this knowledge of Barrett's skill that led White to commission the convict to engrave a medal celebrating the ship's safe arrival in Botany Bay on 20 January 1788. The Charlotte medal is regarded as Australia's first colonial work of art. On one side, it depicts the ship resting at anchor in Botany Bay and, on the other, precise details, in terms of latitude and longitude, about the major places they either passed or stopped at during the eight-month voyage. Barrett did not survive long in the colony. After little more than a month, he was hanged for stealing food, an event recorded by White in his famous Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales (1790): 'Barrett was launched into eternity, after having confessed to Rev. Mr Johnson, who attended him'. Australian National Maritime Museum.

Looking up at the flag

Looking up at the flag, Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Australian Hotel

A venerable hotel in The Rocks, but remember ...

Rainy wet day in Sydney

George St, The Rocks

Old Police Station, The Rocks

127-129 George St is this beautiful sandstone building is the old Police Station. Was also the site of the first hospital. Now empty, looking for tenants.

Urinal under the bridge

In George St in The Rocks is this convenience, built in the 19th Century it is made from Cast Iron.

The Convict Stain

There are not too many memorials to convicts in Sydney. This one is down in The Rocks.
Transportation of convicts to New South Wales was finally abolished in 1840 and shortly afterwards, in 1842, Sydney was declared a city.

Rocks Laneway

Just off George Street is this lane leading to Nurse's Walk and a recommended Tapas place. The Vintage Cafe.

Monochrome weekend

Seafood Kebab

At the markets on Friday nights there are plenty of food stall, I actually do not recommend the seafood kebab.

Wedding at The Rocks

This certainly caught my eye in the historic 'Rocks' area of Sydney.

Backstreet wedding

Walking through the backstreets of an old part of town I came upon a wedding being photographed, I always like taking side shots of occasions like this, some of the official party looked like they had enough - like the flowergirl. They were all speaking Spanish, I thought they might have been tourists, but when I asked for permission to take a photograph someone answered in a broad Australian accent: 'Go for your life.'

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The coathanger as viewed from The Rocks late yesterday afternoon. If you look closely (or double click on the image) you can see the BridgeClimb people going up the arch. It is one of the great tourist things to do in Sydney. Before the legal climb started people were sneaking up there for years. It was reported that one group used to have barbeques up there!