Summer in the City: Sydney, Australia

The Sydney Opera House
Even on overcast days, I love the iconic Opera House – with or without an incoming cruise boat in the background.
(22November2012 -Canon DIGITAL IXUS)

Over the City
Flying into Sydney is almost always a joy; the red tile roofs and greenery make for beautiful contrasts.
(24November2013 – iPhone 4S)

Dancing Waters
I love sitting in Circular Quay over dinner or coffee: there is always a lot of activity to watch on the waters of Sydney Harbour.
(22November2012 – Canon DIGITAL IXUS)

Watching the Big Ships
People line the waterfront of Bennelong Point outside the Opera House to watch the cruise boats make their stately way into the Overseas Passenger Terminal just around the bend.
(22November2012 -Canon DIGITAL IXUS)

Grace Bros. Broadway
Not to be confused with the fictional Grace Brothers from British television, Grace Bros was an Australian department store chain founded in 1885. This building on Broadway – completed in 1923 – was the flagship store. The eighth floor was an exhibition space, and before the building was closed in 1992, my children and I would take the train in from the suburbs on school holidays to visit the latest toy and/or Lego expo there.
(22November2012 – iPhone 4S)

Sydney Tower Wrapped in Flame
Although the surrounding newer highrises compete, this observation and communications tower – variously known as Westfield Tower, Centrepoint Tower, or AMP Tower – is still my CBD touchstone. Here, I’m looking at it through the early summer flowers of a native Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) in Hyde Park.
(22November2012 – iPhone 4S)

The Archibald Fountain
Great Britain, the ‘Old Country’ of colonial days, is heavily referenced in the classical architecture and Anglo place names everywhere around the CBD. In the centre of Hyde Park, we have the Archibald Fountain with the Gothic-style St Mary’s Cathedral in the background.
(22November2012 – iPhone 4S)

Water, Fire and Earth
But, Hyde Park also features some more modern depictions of the past: this sandstone sculpture by Gerard Havekes (1925 – 2011) pays tribute to pioneers: a fisherman who is looking to the future and new horizons, a woman protecting the fires of intuition, initiative, and progress, and a farmer who symbolises the efforts that developed the country.
(05December2014 – iPhone5)

Hyde Park Tree
Every year an artificial tree is erected in the park; I always try to take selfies in the shiny baubles.
(05December2014 – iPhone5)

The University of Sydney
Founded in 1850, Sydney University is the oldest university in Australia; we often went past the sandstone buildings on our morning walks during city-stays.
(24November2012 – iPhone 4S)

The Student
Even the ‘modernist’ public artwork around the old University of Sydney campus is established. This sculpture of a student hunched over a book by sculptor and teacher Tom Bass was acquired by in 1953.
(24November2012 – iPhone 4S)

Bridge in the Gas Lamp
When you are on Circular Quay, it feels as you could touch the Harbour Bridge directly overhead.
(18December2012 – Canon EOS 5D Mark II)

Cruise Ship
Gleaming ships in front the Museum of the Contemporary Art add to the summer atmosphere around Circular Quay.
(18December2012 – iPhone 4S)

Bridge-Climb
High overhead, a group of climbers are strapped in safely.
(18December2012 – iPhone 4S)

Photography Homework
Like Grecian nymphs in their summer dresses, a couple of young women set up a camera on the foreshore at The Rocks.
(18December2012 – iPhone 4S)

Wedding Couple
(18December2012 – iPhone 4S)

People at the Opera House
(25November2013 – iPhone 4S)

Ho Ho Ho!
Darling Harbour always has a slightly irreverent take on Christmas!
(06December2014 – iPhone 5)

Grahame’s Corner
The classical façade of the late 19th century heritage-listed commercial and office building known as Grahame’s Corner makes a great canvas for a 21st century seasonal light show.
(05December2014 – iPhone5)