Page 30 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

28  INTRODUCING SY DNEY

Victorian Sydney

In the 1850s, gold was discovered in New South Wales and
Sydney came alive with gold seekers, big spenders and a
new wave of settlers. It was the start of a peaceful period of
solid growth. Education became compulsory, an art gallery
was opened and the Australian Academy of Arts held its first
exhibition. The city skyline became more complex, with spires
and “tall” buildings. Terrace houses proliferated. Victorian Growth of the City
decorum and social behaviour borrowed from the mother Today 1881
country flourished, with much social visiting and sporting
enthusiasm. It was an age of pleasure gardens and regattas,
but also a time of unruliness and political agitation. In the
1890s, fervent nationalism and an Australian identity began The structure The dome was
to take shape as the country moved towards Federation. was built of 30 m (98 ft)
hollow pine. in diameter.

Mrs Macquaries Chair (1855)
This prime harbour viewing spot (see p108),
with the seat carved from rock for the
governor’s wife, was “the daily resort of
all the fashionable people in Sydney”.

Boer War
The 1st Australian
Horse division
was praised
for its bushcraft, The Garden Palace
horsemanship and
accurate shooting. Built in the Botanic Garden especially for
the occasion, in 1879–80, the Garden Palace
hosted the first international exhibition held
in the southern hemisphere. Twenty nations
took part. Sadly, the predominantly timber
building and most of its contents were
destroyed by fire in 1882.

Henry Parkes
1851 The discovery of gold 1872 Henry
near Bathurst, west of the 1868 The Duke of Edinburgh visits and survives Parkes
Blue Mountains, sparks a an assassination attempt. The Prince Alfred elected NSW
gold rush Hospital is later named in his honour Premier
1850 1860 1870
1867 Henry Lawson born
1857 Dunbar wrecked at The Henry Lawson, 1869 Trend in the colony 1870 The last
Gap with the loss of 121 lives notable poet towards the segregation of British troops
and only one survivor and author of Aboriginal peoples on withdraw from
short stories reserves and settlements the colony

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