Oprah House Danger

After Oprah's visit I think the Sydney Opera House needed some work.
If they dig deep enough they will find a big pile of oyster shells, there were mountains of them when the First Fleet arrived in 1788.

Department of Agriculture Building

Department of Agriculture Building, this is the southern end of the Department of Education Building. Designed by Government architect George MacRae. Made of yellow sandstone from quarries in Pyrmont, Ultimo, the Sydney CBD, Paddington, Bondi and Maroubra.
The second stage was built between 1928 and 1930. The palms in the forecourt are Cabbage Tree Palms, native but not original. Great material for the early settlers and convicts who wove the sinewy fronds into straw hats.

Commonwealth War Cemetery Portianos Lemnos Greece

This cemetery is located on the small beautiful Greek Island of Lemnos in the North-west Aegean, close to the Turkish mainland. In 1915 this island was used as the base for the Gallipoli campaign.
Enclosed by a stone wall, it is immaculately tended by a local farmer. The cemetery was designed by Scottish architect, Sir John Burnet. Inside lie soldiers from UK (261), Australia (50), NZ (29), Newfoundland (3), and Canada (2).

Here is a 'Then and now' not by me but from here.



This is part of a new blog project. Julie's Taphophile Tuesday's Have a look here.

North Bilgola Lookout

There was a sea mist rolling in yesterday afternoon. I didn't like to intrude on this person's meditation.

Avalon Beach Ocean Pool

Many beaches are closed today due to big seas, however some hardy souls are swimming in the Avalon Beach ocean pool.

Captain Arthur Phillip

In 1788, this man, Arthur Phillip, captain of the First Fleet, aged 49 years, raised the flag for England and christened Sydney Cove. His nose, seen in shadow, was described as a 'French philosopher's nose'. The son of a German schoolteacher he rose through the ranks to become a founder of this nation and the first Governor. He was plagued by problems in the early colony and returned to England after 4 years into obscurity. His life unbearable, an invalid, rolled through an upper storey window in his wheelchair to his death.
Here he is placed, hidden from sight on Manly's Corso, in an alcove on an upper floor of a residential development, he is looking South towards the place he was speared by an Aboriginal.

David Jones Silent Night

Twas the night before ... again outside the David Jones store in the city.
Happy Christmas everyone, I hope you all have a joyous day.

David Jones Table Setting

Getting ready for Christmas lunch? At our Christmas on the menu is: falafel, sausage rolls, prawns, ham, and pudding.

North Bilgola Lookout

This is my destination when I go for a morning walk along The Serpentine to North Bilgola Lookout.


Looking south toward Sydney - 35km away.


Looking north to Bangalley Head at Avalon. Note that some lowlife has stolen the brass plate with all the topographic features on it.

Bend and Stretch inside the Royal Botanic Gardens

Good to have a friend like this.

Wishing Well Fountain Macquarie Street

Good to see people reading outside at lunch. This'fro headed young man was 'chillaxing' by the fountain.

"The Wishing Well Fountain for the NSW Society for Crippled Children outside the Palace Garden Gate was designed by architect Professor Peter Spooner, 1963. The pool and fountainhead were by Public Works Department NSW in association with Phill & K.V. Taranto Architects, 1988." Royal Botanic Gardens website.

For a beautiful night shot of this fountain click on to this link of a more talented Sydney photographer: Wishing Well Fountain at night.

While sheperds watched their flocks

The David Jones Christmas display, loved by old and young.
'There's no other store like David Jones" the tune written by Graeme Bond (Aunty Jack) for his old girlfriend, when she left him he used the tune for this advertisement.

Assange, Mawson and Corby

Three famous Australians who were lined up together on this bookstand.
Who would you like to have a cup of tea with?

Beach Volleyball Manly Beach

The broad golden sands of Manly Beach, where there are nets set up permanently for volleyball enthusiasts.

Doctor at Large Flying Book

Revisiting the Galeries Victoria where there are 900 flying books hanging from the ceiling. The Doctor at Large book caught my eye.

The Residence Hyde Park Street Art

The latest shiny new high rise apartments are on the corner of College and Stanley Streets, opposite Hyde park. This associated sculpture is on that corner. It used to be the old Police Headquarters where Roger Rogerson reigned.

Please enjoy the florid prose from their web site:

"An island of excellence on the leafy oasis ...

a beacon for the future...

vividly alive with the charisma of Sydney's beating heart.

A place in history... a place in time..."

The Arrival

Book set against the backdrop of a rainy day Sydney and Town Hall.

"The Arrival is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images that might seem to come from a long forgotten time. A man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean."

David Jones Christmas Window Display

Every year the department store, David Jones, has a window display of moving puppets on a Christmas theme. The display is designed by puppeteer David Poulton, he said it took five artists six months to create the mechanical puppet theatre displays and a couple of weeks to install them.

Flying Books

Inside The Galeries Victoria are these flying books, according to their website: "There are over 900 novels, donated by Random House beneath The Galeries ceiling. This cascading chandelier of novels is our way of celebrating literary genius and you’ll also find quotes from literary legends displayed throughout The Galeries."

No 1 Bligh Street

Sydney's newest skyscraper, very environmentally friendly I'm told.

Located at the corner of Bent and O'Connell Streets at the top of the broad curving steps of 1 Bligh's entrance is a new public artwork titled 'Day In, Day Out', created by Australian artist James Angus.

'The sculpture is a complex network of three-dimensional ellipsoidal surfaces drawn from shapes expressed in the design of the building. The form is enhanced by a brightly painted colour scheme which traces the underlying geometry.'

I think that means its funky. Any thoughts?

Turbulence

In summer, when it arrives, kids like to jump into this wash created by the ferry.

Reflection on War

This is a puddle reflection (flipped) of The Offerings of War from outside the NSW Art Gallery, on a cold, wet December day. The coldest start to summer in 50 years.


Said puddle.

See other Weekend Reflections

Detail from Offerings of Peace

Cast in 1926 this statue is outside the NSW Art Gallery.
Peace offers the Arts and Plenty.
These are represented by Greek comic and tragic masks as shown here.

Picasso at the Art Gallery

The latest exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery, has anyone seen it?

Tranquil Lake

Lake Macquarie from Wangi Wangi.

Australian Christmas Tree

This Banksia is named after Sir Joseph Banks, botanist on Captain Cook's ship Endeavour in 1770. It even has its own Christmas decorations.

Manly Ferry approaches

Nothing beats catching a ferry to work on a warm summer day. I am usually bad at waiting but for some reason don't mind waiting for the ferry.

Pelican + Man

Narrabeen Lake a popular fishing spot for man and bird. What happens when he catches a fish?

Nautilus Shell Sculpture Manly Wharf

This sculpture at Manly Wharf has an unfortunate nickname.

It features a 7 metre nautilus shell with 32 mist nozzles creating clouds of cooling water. At night, the mist is lit from the nozzles by fibre optics in a ring of blue neon light. Designed by Urban Art Projects and installed in 2000 it is cast aluminium.

Waiting for the Manly Ferry

“Seven miles from Sydney and a thousand miles from care”.

Get fit

Resting between situps, phew!

Steyne Reflection

Reflection of the esplanade at Manly, tres popular.

Hotel Steyne

Ideal location for a pub, now owned by Gerry Harvey and John Singleton, I like the redone 'old' posters. Pure Blonde is a relatively recent beer.

Ocean Beach Tea Rooms

On the corner of The Corso at Manly Beach, shame it is not still serving tea and scones. Although coffee has taken over the mantle as the drink of choice for Australians.

Ambo on Esplanade

This ambulance crew were enjoying their morning coffee at Manly, they were interrupted soon after and had to deploy, sirens hee-hawing, woo-wooing or is it blaring?

What sounds do your sirens make?

Three Cops

Looking over a Remembrance Day crowd in Martin Place were these smart policemen.
The NSW Police Force is one of the largest police organisations in the English speaking world. Known as the Night Watch, it began as the first civilian police force in Australia, formed by Governor Arthur Phillip in 1789. In 1862 all Watch Teams were combined to form the NSW Police Force. A few years back their name changed to NSW Police Service,recently their name has reverted to back to the POLICE FORCE!

Two Men Little Manly

Waiting on the wharf at Little Manly Beach. This harbour beach has a shark net.

Water on The Corso

Fill up your water bottles here. A great idea for all those who are attached to their plastic water bottle.

This was taken on a recent visit to Manly Beach.
I reckon it is a better beach than its rival across the harbour, Bondi Beach.
Because:
- you can arrive by ferry
- the relaxing walk along The Corso from the ferry to the beach
- the Norfolk Island Pines
- the Steyne Hotel

Flower Stall Martin Place

Right near the Cenotaph these Flower people are setting up for the day.

Dancers at Market Day

Bright dancing girls at Avalon Market Day.

Cool Scooter

This ancient vespa was parked near to the action at the Avalon Market Day.
On a hot and humid day, the perfect way to get around.

Sea Fog

Yesterday was a steamy hot day and then something unusual happened, a sea fog rolled in mid- morning.

Lake Macquarie Sunrise

Woken up by the kookaburras so I wandered down to the edge of the lake. The largest saltwater lake in Australia.

Fishing time

Early Morning Lake Macquarie.
Skywatchers

Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk 11

View across Pittwater as I finish my walk.