Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

74  SY DNEY

Garden Island to Farm Cove

Sydney’s vast harbour, also named Port Jackson after a
Secretary in the British Admiralty who promptly changed
his name, is a drowned river valley which was transformed
over millions of years. Its intricate coastal geography of
headlands and secluded bays can sometimes confound
even lifelong residents. This waterway was the lifeblood
of the early colony, with the maritime industry a vital
source of wealth and supply. The legacies of recessions The city skyline is a result of random
and booms can be viewed along the shoreline: development. The 1960s’ destruction
a representation of a nation where an estimated of architectural history was halted,
and towers now stand amid
80 per cent of the population cling to the Victorian buildings.
coastal cities, especially in the east.

Two harbour beacons, known
as “wedding cakes” because
of their three tiers, are solar
powered and equipped
with a fail-safe back-up
service. There are around
350 buoys and beacons
now in operation.

The barracks for Garden Island
the naval garrison marks a 1940s
date from 1888. construction project
with 12 ha (30 acres)
reclaimed from the
harbour.

Sailing on the harbour is a pastime not
exclusively reserved for the rich elite. Of the
several hundred thousand pleasure boats
registered, some are available for hire while
others take out groups of inexperienced sailors.
Mrs Macquaries Chair is a carved rock seat by Mrs
Macquaries Road (see p112). In the early days of the
0 metres 250
colony this was the site of a fruit and vegetable
0 yards 250 garden which was farmed until 1805.