Visit Sydney Australia
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Situated on the site of the colony of New South Wales' first government house, this fascinating museum brings alive the history of the city of Sydney and the steps it went through to become the world city it is today.
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Standing at 305 metres, Sydney Tower is the tallest man-made structure in Australia. The turret contains two revolving restaurants and a coffee lounge/function room on levels one to three, an Observation Deck is situated on level four, with two telecommunications and three main plant levels above.
The oasis of green in Sydney s heart that is known today as Hyde Park was originally part of the large tract of land earmarked by Governor Arthur Phillip for public recreation when he laid out the colony in 1788. Like the nearby Botanical Gardens and The Domain, it has remained a leafy haven for shoppers and city workers alike, providing a sanctuary in the concrete jungle of the shops and office buildings which have sprung up around it.
The Domain is 34 hectares of open space on the eastern edge of the Sydney central business district, near Woolloomooloo. It is a popular venue for outdoor concerts, open air events and for large gatherings and rallies. Sydney residents and visitors come here to relax and enjoy views of the City and Sydney Harbour. On any weekday lunchtime, its roads are filled with joggers and its grass used for corporate sports competitions.
One of Sydney's most elaborate buildings, a remarkable feat considering it was created by a succession of architects who strove to outdo each other with their own individual ideas of what the end result should be. The exterior stonework includes a number of sandstone lions, one of which has one eye shut.
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The Australian Museum is a place of exploration and discovery, inspiring responsibility for our world by promoting knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of science, nature and culture. Australia's oldest museum, its collection focuses on natural history. Colonial architect Mortimer Lewis designed this impressive sandstone building.
The Art Gallery NSW is surrounded by parklands on the eastern edge of the CBD. There are around 29,000 items in the permanent collection and it is divided up into seven major collections. The Australian collection reflects the evolving cultural traditions of the past two hundred years of European settlement in Australia. The Yiribana Gallery is dedicated to the permanent display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art.
Rich in history and architecturally splendid, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB) occupies an entire block on Sydney's George Street, and has over 180 of Sydney's finest fashion boutiques, jewellery shops and homewares, accompanied by delightful cafes and restaurants. The grand building, built in the 1890s, was beautifully restored and re-opened in 1986. It quickly became Sydney's most popular and prestigious shopping centre.
The State Library of New South Wales is a large reference and research library open to the public. It is the oldest library in Australia, being the first library established in New South Wales (now a state of Australia). The State Reference Library and Mitchell Liobrary contain a very comprehensive and diverse collection of Australian and international research material.
The city centre's main shopping precinct is bounded by Druitt, George, King and Elizabeth Street. Within this area is a vast range of shopping options, from boutique shops to major department stores. Pitt Street between Market and King Street is a pedestrians only mall boasting more than 600 specialty stores, Myer, and David Jones.
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The Mint Building is Sydney CBD's oldest public building and historic coining factory. The elegant colonnaded building once formed the southern wing of Governor Macquarie s notorious Rum Hospital and later part of the first overseas branch of London s Royal Mint. The site today houses our head office and verandah cafe, while the central courtyard provides a tranquil oasis on Sydney s busy Macquarie Street.
Centrally located opposite Macquarie's town square and the green fields of Hyde Park, this Georgian style building was erected in 1819 as a home for the colony's convict population. Today it is a museum, its historical displays tell the story of the building and its first occupants, the convicts of 19th Century Sydney. The museum is open daily 10.00am - 5.00pm.
Queens Square is a small section of Macquarie Street that was originall intended to be the civic square of the City of Sydney. Over the years the city has outgrown its "civic square", but the story of this little corner of colonial Sydney today encapsulates the story of Sydney itself on its journey from colonial convict outpost to a leading city of the British Commonwealth.
Established in 1916 on the site of the first farm of the young colony of Sydney, the Royal Botanical Gardens contains an impressive collection of native and overseas plants. They feature a palm grove, herb garden, a tropical centre, the National Herbarium of NSW and more. Featuring gardens, grassed areas and gently sloping paths, it is a peaceful haven from the hustle and bustle of the traffic and noise of the city just a block away.