Page 115 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

BO T ANIC GARDEN AND THE DOM AIN  113

barracks that now occupy the
island were built as part of
Sydney’s defences. The site was
renamed after the governor
of the time. The gun, still fired
at 1pm each day, helped
mariners to set their ships’
chronometers accurately.
Today the island is the perfect
setting for watching harbour
activities, such as the New Year
fireworks displays (see p45).
6Art Gallery of
New South Wales
See pp114–17.
Mosaic replica of the Tasman Map, State Library of New South Wales
7The Domain Library wing (1910), is a majestic 9Parliament
sandstone edifice facing the House
Art Gallery Rd. Map 1 C4. @ Sydney
Explorer, 111, 411. 7 Royal Botanic Garden (see
pp110–11). Huge stone columns Macquarie St. Map 1 C4. Tel (02) 9230
Once the governor’s private supporting a vaulted ceiling 2111. @ Sydney Explorer, Elizabeth St
park, this public grass space frame the impressive vestibule. routes.  Martin Place. Open 9am–
attracts thousands to open-air On the vestibule floor is a mosaic 5pm Mon–Fri. Closed public hols.
7 8 (02) 9230 3444 to book.
summer concerts and festival replica of an old map illustrating ∑ parliament.nsw.gov.au
events. Since the 1890s, it has the two voyages made to
hosted Sydney’s version of Australia by Dutch navigator The central section of this
Speakers’ Corner. Today, it is Abel Tasman in the 1640s (see building, which houses the
popular with joggers and office p53). The two ships of the first State Parliament, is part of the
workers playing touch football voyage are shown off the south original Sydney Hospital built
or relaxing in their lunch hours. coast, the two from the second from 1811–16 (see p117). It has
voyage are seen to the north- been a seat of government
west. The original Tasman Map is since 1829 when the newly
held in the Mitchell Library as appointed Legislative Council
part of its collection of historic first held meetings here. The
Australian paintings, books, building was extended twice
documents and pictorial records. during the 19th century and
The Mitchell wing’s vast again during the 1970s and
reading room, with its huge 1980s. The current building
skylight and oak panelling, is contains the chambers for both
just beyond the main vestibule. houses of state parliament, as
There is also an attractive well as parliamentary offices.
contemporary structure that Parliamentary memorabilia
faces Macquarie Street (see is on view in the Jubilee
View of Sydney Harbour from pp118–19). This area houses the Room, as are displays showing
The Domain State Reference Library. Parliament House’s
Beyond the Mitchell development and the
wing is the Dixson legislative history
8State Library of Gallery, housing of the state.
New South Wales cultural and historical The corrugated
exhibitions which iron building with
Macquarie St. Map 1 C4. Tel (02) 9273 change regularly. a cast-iron façade
1414. @ Sydney Explorer, Elizabeth St Outside the library, tacked on at the
routes.  Martin Place. Open 9am– facing Macquarie southern end was
8pm Mon–Thu, 9am–5pm Fri, 10am– Street, is a statue of a prefabricated kit
5pm Sat & Sun. Closed most public the explorer Matthew from England. In 1856,
hols, Mitchell Library closed Sun. 7 Malby’s celestial globe,
8 - = ∑ sl.nsw.gov.au Flinders, who first Parliament House this dismantled kit
ventured into central became the chamber
The state library is housed in two Australia (see pp56–7). On for the new Legislative Council.
separate buildings connected by the windowsill behind him Its packing cases were used to
a passageway and a glass bridge. is a statue of his travelling line the chamber; the rough
The older building, the Mitchell companion, his cat, Trim. timber can still be seen.