Exploring Oceania: Australasia, the Australian Continent’s State of New South Wales and the city of Sydney
Saturday & Sunday, March 2–3, 2024
HAL Grand Australia & NZ Cruise
So, OK, we have posted about Sydney a gazillion times, already!!!!
And now, we’re going to do it again!!!
In 2018, we posted a little history of the city:
“ 2018 HAL World Cruise…
…The Aboriginal people inhabited Australia for 60,000 years prior to the arrival of Abel Tasman, a Dutch Navigator, in 1642. More Europeans followed, and they brought diseases with them which eventually decimated the Aborigines. Today only about 2% of the Australian population is of Aboriginal descent.
In 1768, Capt. Cook set off from England in the Endeavour. By April 1770, King George III formally claimed possession of the Australian east coast. Later, due to the overcrowding of the jails and the loss of the American Colonies in the War of Independence, Britain decided to establish a penal colony in the new land. Thus, the First Fleet, consisting of 2 war ships and nine transports, arrived in Sydney Cove in 1788. The initial settlement was 750 convicts, 210 marines and 40 women and children. Tents were erected on the rocky shoreline and the first “village” was founded, forevermore to be known as “The Rocks.”
The Rocks along with Circular Quay are the oldest part of inner Sydney. And this is the area we chose to visit on this voyage.
Here are the photos:
Our day in Sydney began at the White Bay Cruise Terminal.There, we exited the ship and boarded a shuttle to Darling Harbour.From Darling Harbour, we took a ferry to Circular Quay.We passed The Rocks area as we approached Circular Quay.Arriving in Circular Quay, we could see the tree-shrouded Rocks area….our destination for today’s adventure!!!!Reaching the Museum of Contemporary Art, we turned towards the stairs leading up to the Central Business District. From there, we were on our way to The Rocks, beginning our journey into history.We did not visit the art museum this time. But we do recommend it!!!At the street level, we could admire the modern architecture of Sydney.And then we reached our destination. When the First Fleet arrived in 1788, they established the first convict settlement on the rocks. Sydney was born.Note the wonderful architecture of the old area.The area is a series of lanes, passageways, and arches. This is the Nurse’s Walk. Two Sydney hospitals were located in this area from 1788 to 1816. The nurses were recruited from the convict population. They received no pay, but were supported at pubic expense.Named for Marine Captain Watkin Tench who arrived in 1788 with the first Fleet. This arcade honors his contributions to the written history of the new colony.This is the Garrison Church, built 1840-1846. It was known as the Holy Trinity Angilican Church and Hall. It was the first Garrison Church built in colonial Australia and remains in active service to this day.As the population of Sydney grew, Terrace Houses came into vogue. They were attached homes; compact; and were built between the 1850s and 1890s.
Many have been put into commercial use. This series, tucked under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is an example.
And, speaking of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this is it!! Interesting bit of trivia: in 1814, convict & noted architect, Francis Greenway, first proposed a bridge at this location. Nothing happened.But by 1924, necessity and desire coincided and a contract was awarded to Dorman Long & Co. to build a bridge.The bridge was completed in 1932. Built in conjunction with the City Circle Underground tram, it consists of 6 lanes for traffic; two rail tracks; and a footpath.View from top (gun) deck of south east pylon of Sydney Harbour Bridge Date 20 November 2020, 14:06:20 Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/its_all_about_the_light/50632020338/ Author David Minty (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)As our day drew to a close, we popped into the Brewery at the old Lord Nelson Hotel. Convict turned gentleman publican, William Wells, built the original structure as his home in 1836. But converted it into a hotel in 1842.This is a charming establishment!!!In 1986, a group of invstors bought the hotel and pub. By 1998, they had completed a major renovation, adding the microbrewery in the cellar. The license for the Lord Nelson has been continuous since that opening-day in 1841!!!
Some in our group enjoyed the Quayle Ale.
Others preferred the Old Admiral.
And Sandy stuck with her Sauvignon Blanc!!!
This was a good day in The Rocks!!! But now, it was time to call it a day. We headed back to the ship.
On day two, we simply shopped before departing Australia and heading to New Zealand.
Join uslater. We will share our wanderings across the South and North Islands of New Zealand.
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