Sydney – anevolvingscientist.org

Observations on Sydney Harbour

Sydney is blessed with a fine harbour. Prior to the advent of container ships, it was very much a working harbour, freight and passengers delivered into the heart of the city. Many Sydneysiders are transported to work each day by ferry, arriving at Circular Quay with a short walk, light or heavy rail connection to their place of work. Thousands of migrants arrived from (mainly) Europe at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, which is on the western flank of the Quay. These days, it is the cruise ships that use the terminal, almost daily from October to May each year (pandemics not withstanding, of course!). They tend to dwarf the ferries and historic buildings.

Circular Quay on a quiet day

‘Carnival Splendor’ towers over historic Cadmans Cottage

Circular Quay and ‘Carnival Splendor’

‘Grand Princess’ stands proud at the Terminal

Small boys, and many not so young, enjoy the spectacle of these floating apartment blocks manoeuvring, or being manoeuvred by tugs, avoiding collision with the harbour traffic.

‘Carnival Splendor’ departing, a tall ship ‘Søren Larsen’ at rest

‘Majestic Princess leaves at dusk

‘Carnival Splendor’ is manoeuvred by tugs

….. or maybe just relax on the grass and enjoy the view!

Pottering around in “Old Sydney Town”

“Old Sydney” is a misnomer in so far as it refers to the establishment of the British Colony in 1788, rather than to our indigenous population who cared for the land for 60,000 years. The first fleet of eleven ships set up camp at Sydney Cove, now known as Circular Quay, with its passenger shipping and ferry terminals – more on that another time.

Care is being taken to preserve much of this area, and calling it “The Rocks” needs little imagination! Recent excavations don’t go deep (as some in Europe do) because of the sandstone base that provided foundations for buildings. Cadmans Cottage, built 1816, is one of few buildings that remains of the first 30 years of the colony. Every window on one side of a now 4 star hotel, bears an interesting statement.

Signage helps us to understand

Recent site – truly built on rock!

Cadmans Cottage

Preservation acknowledged

‘Old’ and ‘new’ coexist

Modern Sydney towers over First Fleet Park

The ‘coathanger’ as a backdrop

Lighting the natural rock

Every weekend, The Rocks Market swings into action. All the usual market suspects – art, jewellery, leather goods, fabrics, souvenirs and more, as well as an assortment of food items. Come Monday morning, the street shows no evidence of the flurry of activity.