Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Solar and Wind power


On the northern side of the Australian Musuem is this little power plant, I am not sure what it powers but I want one.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Reserve bank Sculpture


This unusual sculpture is at the front of the Reserve Bank. The Reserve Bank is at the top (Macquarie Street end) of Martin Place. According to the RBA website: In September 1961, the governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr H.C.Coombs,announced an Australia-wide competition for artists and sculptors todesign a freestanding sculpture, a mural wall design for the entrance foyer and a formal garden. The American born artist Margel Hinder was awarded the commission for the sculpture, and her copper and steel artwork is a significant example of Australian modernist abstraction

The plaque notes, besides title and artist, that it was sculpted in 1964, "assisted by Frank Lumb and Frank Hinder".

Sunday, August 29, 2010

David Helfgott


I saw David Helfgott last night - amazing Pianist. He is the one that the movie 'Shine' is based on. At the City Recital Hall in Angel Place.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Archibald Fountain Morning Light


A spring display of flowers have been planted around the fountain. The weather is turning - at last.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Sunrise at Newport Beach


The sky this morning was full of ice crystals according to the weather man, it produced an great sunrise as I waited for my bus this morning.
Skywatch Friday

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The S sculpture


The MLC center was designed by the Sydney architect Harry Seidler (1923 - 2006), it is 67 storeys and a height of 228 metres it was the tallest building in Australia when completed in 1978 and remained the tallest building in Sydney until 1992. The yellow 'S' sculpture on the top plaza is by Charles Perry.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Athena


Athena - Goddess of Wisdom donated by the mayor of Athens during the Sydeny Olympics in 2000. This statue is in Barrack Street outside a classy Greek restaurant 'The Athenian' which is located in a beautiful old bank building, if you are ever in there take note of the old bank vault door on the way to the toilets.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Entrance to MLC


This is the King and Elizabeth Street entrance to the MLC building - I recommend the food court below for breakfast.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Hop on Hop off


Hard to miss these colourful buses. This one is the same one I caught a few blogs ago coming down College Street. Great on a sunny Sydney day. Different from the Sydney Buses Explorer these buses are part of the worldwide group, cost $35 for the day.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Art Work


I haven't notice this graffiti art before it is down a back lane in my local suburb.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Election Day


Australia decides. Today compulsory voting is taking place to decide on a Federal Government. It happens every 3 years and the polling booth is where it is all happening. Battle past the leaflet people and the cake stall, in line and get you name marked off, and then into the cone of silence to make your mark with a pencil. Democracy at work.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Australian Museum


The Australian Museum from the Hyde Park side, coming into view is the sightseeing bus. Great on a sunny day. I like the dinosaur emerging from the window.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Washing Captain Cook


time for a bit of attention to the good Captain, a scene from Hyde Park at lunchtime. Not to cold for some to catch a few rays.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

AMP Building


In 1965 this used to be the tallest building in Sydney, it is next to Customs House down at the Quay. What is the tallest building in Sydney now? (besides Centrepoint, which is a tower!)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Obelisk


In Elizabeth Street positioned at the entrance to Hyde Park, opposite Bathurst Street, stands this ancient Egyptian needle. It is really an air outlet for the underground sewer system disguised as a full-size replica of Cleopatra’s Needle one of the many "relocated antiquities" in London.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Pink Buildings


There are three of these office towers on Elizabeth Street near Central. They are very pink.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Small Sydney Opera House


Up the top of the steps there is a view of the small sails of the Sydney Opera House - in the left of the photograph - it houses the Bennelong Restaurant. Sad to say I have never eaten there.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Ibero-Americano statues


Next to Central Station is a row of statues dedicated to Ibero-American heroes- opened in 1989. The first is General San Martin.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Harbour Fog


A foggy morning on Sydney Harbour with the spires of St Mary's Cathedral. Appropriate for Friday the 13th- (cue spooky music)
Skywatch Friday

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Topless Runway


In Martin Place at lunchtime yesterday there was a fashion show of sorts. Topless models parading down the catwalk showing off the latest stocking fashion. Seemed the crowd was predominantly male.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Central Station Clock Tower


The Northern entrance to the station (where all the country trains depart and arrive).

The Daily Telegraph says: For 89 years it has stood above Central station, marking the passage of time for generations of Sydneysiders. Now, after first clocking on at 10.22am on March 3, 1921, the prominent timepiece and 90m-tall Central clock tower is undergoing an intricate overhaul by heritage experts. Behind the scaffolding that covers the tower, the clock hands sit at 10.10, an industry standard that represents an optimistic "hands in the air". After stopping the clock on June 3, the restoration will continue for 17 months.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Central Station Portico


This is the Elizabeth Street entrance to Central Railway Station it is the largest railway station in Australia. It was built in 1906 of beautiful Sydney Sandstone.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Skin Deep


There is a trendy shop on Elizabeth Street with some interesting gear. It has a obscure name too. There are lots of films/songs called Skin Deep but the I guess it is from The Stranglers song Skin Deep:
Sometimes it's tougher to look than to leap
Better watch out for the Skin Deep.

What does it mean?

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Foggy Sydney Harbour


The other morning a fog rolled into the harbour, the ferries still ran - they have better radar now and also forward looking infrared (FLIR) cameras.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Pink


Very Pink, a new jewellery store has just opened on George Street, I was compelled to take a snap.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Tiles


Looking up along the sail of the Opera House, a glimpse of sky. Apparently there are 1,057,000 Swedish tiles! To view other Skywatch images click here.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Sydney Opera House


The Sydney Opera House designed by a Danish architect Jørn Utzon(9 April 1918 – 29 November 2008), the unexpected winner of the design competition in 1957. He controversially resigned from the building in 1966 which was finally completed in 1973. He was not invited to the ceremony and never returned to Australia to see his completed design.
What is the design based on - a nun's hat, the sails of a yacht, the segments of an orange?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Posing on Opera House Steps


These tourists were proudly posing with the gardens in the backdrop. Hope they were having a good time in Sydney. That is Farm Cove in the background.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Con


This is Sydney's Conservatorium of Music - affectionately known as The Con. It used to be the stables for the Governor but is now put to a better use.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Royal Botanic Gardens


The city skyline peeking over a rise in the gardens. August winds have blown the recent rain clouds away.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Potato Art


At the Sydney Winter Festival one of the food stalls had some potato art. Colourful enough for the theme - Bright Colours? Click here to link to other Bright Colour Blogs.