Page 120 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

118  SY DNEY

wHyde Park Refurbished in 1990, the
Barracks Museum barracks reopened as a museum
on the history of the site and its
Queens Square 10, Macquarie St. occupants. The displays include
Map 1 C5. Tel (02) 8239 2311. a room reconstructed as convict
@ Sydney Explorer, Elizabeth St quarters of the 1820s, as well as
routes.  St James, Martin Place. pictures, models and artifacts.
Open 10am–5pm daily. Closed
Good Fri, 25 Dec. & 7 ground Many of the objects recovered
floor only. 8 on request. - during archaeological digs at
∑ sydneylivingmuseums.com.au the site and now on display
survived because they had
Described by Governor been dragged away by rats
Macquarie as “spacious” and to their nests; today the rodents
“well-aired”, the beautifully are acknowledged as valuable
proportioned barracks are the agents of preservation.
work of Francis Greenway and Replica convict hammocks on the third The Greenway Gallery on
are considered his masterpiece floor of Hyde Park Barracks the first floor holds varied
(see p177). They were completed exhibitions on history and
in 1819 by convict labour and Subsequently, the building then culture. Hyde Park Barracks is
designed to house 600 convicts. housed, in turn, young Irish one of 11 Australian convict
Until that time convicts had orphans and single female locations listed as UNESCO
been forced to find their own immigrants, before it later World Heritage sites for their
lodgings after their day’s work. became courts and legal offices. outstanding universal value.

Macquarie Street
Named after Governor Lachlan Macquarie, this This wing of the
street was designed as a ceremonial thorough­ library was built
fare from the harbour to Hyde Park. It houses in 1988 and
some of Australia’s main architectural treasures, connected to
as well as New South Wales Parliament House, the old section
home of the State Government. by a glass
walkway.
The Mitchell Library Parliament House was
wing’s portico (1906) has once the convict-built Rum
lonic columns. Hospital’s northern wing.

1. State Library of NSW (1906–41) 2. Parliament House (1811–16)
The Mint, like its twin,
Parliament House, has an
T T The roof of The Mint he roof of The Mint he roof unusual double-colonnaded,
has now been two-storeyed veranda.
completely restored to
replicate the original
wooden shingles in
casuarina (she-oak).
Hyde Park
Barracks Café

4. The Mint (1816)
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp482–3 and pp504–7