Page 131 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

P ADDINGT ON  129

6 Paddington
Town Hall
249 Oxford St (cnr Oatley Rd). Map
5 C3. Tel 9265 9189. @ 333, 378, 380.
Library: Open 9:30am–6pm Mon, Tue,
Thu & Fri, noon–8pm Wed, 10am–4pm
Sat. ∑ palacecinemas.com.au
The Paddington Town Hall
was completed in 1891. An
inter national competition
which, in a spirit of Victorian
self-confidence, was intended
to produce the state’s finest
town hall, was won by local
architect J E Kemp. His Classical The lush green expanse of Centennial Park
Revival building, to which a clock
tower was later added, still 8 Victoria Barracks foundations 10 m (40 ft) deep
dominates the surrounding Oxford St. Map 5 B4. Tel 8335 in places. In a former jail block,
area, although it is no longer a 5330. @ 333, 378, 380. Museum: a museum traces New South
centre of local government. Open 10am–1pm Thu (last adm Wales’ military heritage.
The building now houses noon), 10am–4pm first Sun of month.
Chauvel Cinema in the former Closed Dec & Jan. 7 8 Parade &
ballroom, which is managed by tour: 10am Thu. ∑ armymuseum 9 Centennial Park
the Australian Film Institute, as nsw.com.au Map 6 E5. Tel 9339 6699. @ Clovelly,
well as the Paddington Library. Coogee, Maroubra, Randwick,
The Regency-style Victoria Bronte, City, Bondi Beach & Bondi
Barracks, covering almost Junction routes, Bondi Explorer Bus.
12 ha (29 acres), is one of the Open the park is open permanently;
best-known examples of military cars are permitted from sunrise.
architecture, not only in - 0 7 8 on request.
Australia but also in the world. ∑ centennialparklands.com.au
Designed by the Colonial
Engineer, Lieutenant Colonel Entering this large park
George Barney, the barracks through one of its sand stone
were built between 1841 and and wrought-iron gates, the
1848 using local sandstone visitor may wonder how such
quarried by mainly convict an extensive and idyllic space
labour. Originally intended to has survived so close to the
house 800 men, it has been in centre of the city.
Paddington Town Hall, at the highest point continuous military use ever Formerly a common, it was
in the Oxford Street ridge since, and still operates as a dedicated “to the enjoyment of
centre of military planning, the people of New South Wales
administration and command. forever” on 26 January 1888, the
7 Paddington The main block is 225 m centenary of the foundation of
Village (740 ft) long and has symmet- the colony. On 1 January 1901,
rical two-storey wings with more than 100,000 people
Cnr Gipps & Shadforth Sts. Map 5 C3. cast-iron verandas flanking a gathered here to witness the
@ 333, 378, 380.
central archway. The perimeter birth of the Commonwealth of
Paddington began its life as walls, which are designed to Australia with the proclamation
a working-class suburb. The repel surprise attacks, have of the Federation of Australia.
community comprised the The striking Federation Pavilion
carpenters, quarrymen and marks the site of this event.
stonemasons who supervised Today picnickers, painters,
the convict gangs that built runners, horse riders, cyclists
Victoria Barracks in the 1840s. and inline skaters enjoy this vast
The artisans and their fami lies recreation area.
occupied a tight huddle of spar- Once the source of Sydney’s
tan houses, a few of which still water supply, the swamps are
remain, crowded into the narrow now home to many waterbirds.
streets nearby. Like the barracks, Within the park are ornamen tal
these dwellings and surrounding ponds, cultivated gardens,
shops and hotels were built The archway at the Oxford Street entrance an Avenue of Palms, a sports
mainly of locally quarried stone. to Victoria Barracks ground and a café.

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