Page 88 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

86  SY DNEY

A Flagpole on the Mudflats
The modest flagpole on Loftus Street, near
Customs House, flies a flag, the Union Jack, on
the spot where Australia’s first ceremonial flag-
raising took place. On 26 January 1788, Captain
Arthur Phillip hoisted the flag to declare the
foundation of the colony. A toast to the king
was drunk and a musket volley fired. On this date
each year, the country marks Australia Day with
a national holiday (see p45). In 1788, the flagpole
was on the edge of mudflats on Sydney Cove.
Today, due to land reclamations, it is set back
from the water’s edge.
The Founding of Australia by Algernon Talmage

9Garrison Church displays and games, along with with changing exhibitions
night sky viewings; it is essential throughout the year, designed
Cnr Argyle & Lower Fort sts, Millers
Point. Map 1 A2. Tel (02) 9247 1071. to book for these. to explore the richness and
@ 311. Open 9am–6pm daily. The building began life in diversity in Australian art.
R Sun: 9:30am, 4pm. 7 the 1850s as a time-ball tower.
∑ churchillanglican.com At 1pm daily, the ball on top of wSt Philip’s Church
the tower dropped to signal the
Officially named the Holy Trinity correct time. At the same time, 3 York St (enter from Jamison St).
Church, this was the colony’s a cannon was fired at Fort Map 1 A3. Tel (02) 9247 1071. @ 311.
first military church. Denison. This custom Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri. Closed 26
Henry Ginn designed continues today Jan. 8 Phone first. R Sun: 8:30am,
the church and, in (see p112). 10:15am (children’s), 6pm.
1840, the foundation During the 1880s ∑ churchillanglican.com
stone was laid. In Sydney Observatory
1855, it was enlarged became known The square tower of this Victorian
to hold up to 600 around the world Gothic church dwarfed by
people. Regimental when some of the modern edifices was a local
plaques hanging first astronomical landmark when it was first built.
along interior walls photographs of the The original 1793 church
recall the church’s southern sky were burned down and was replaced
military associations. taken here. From in 1810. Construction of the
A small cabinet East window, 1890 to 1962 the current building, designed by
displays Australian Garrison Church observatory mapped Edmund Blacket, began in 1848.
military and some 750,000 stars as Work was disrupted in 1851,
historical items. part of an international project when the stonemasons left for
Other features to look out that resulted in an atlas of the the gold fields, but by 1856 the
for are the brilliantly coloured entire night sky. church was finally completed.
east window and the carved A peal of bells was donated
red cedar pulpit. in 1888 to mark Sydney’s cen-
qNational tenary, and they still announce
Trust Centre the services each Sunday.
0Sydney
Observatory Observatory Hill, Watson Rd, The Rocks.
Map 1 A3. Tel (02) 9258 0123.
Observatory Hill, Watson Rd, The @ Sydney Explorer, 311. Open
Rocks. Map 1 A2. Tel (02) 9921 3485. 9am–5pm Tue–Fri. Gallery: Open
@ Sydney Explorer, 311. Open 11am–5pm Tue–Sun. Closed pub
10am–5pm daily. Night viewings call hols. 7 = - ∑ nationaltrust.
to book. Closed 25 Dec. & 7 8 org.au
∑ maas.museum/sydney-
observatory The buildings that form the
headquarters of the National
In 1982 this domed building, Trust of Australia, date from
which had been a centre for 1815, when Governor
astronomical observation and Macquarie chose the site for a
research for almost 125 years, military hospital. Today they
became the city’s astronomy house a café, a National Trust
museum. It has interactive shop and the S H Ervin Gallery, Interior and pipe organ of St Philip’s Church
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp482–3 and pp504–7