Built in 1844, Susannah Place Museum is a terrace of four houses that incorporates a re-created 1915 corner store. Rare in the city of Sydney, it has a continuous history of domestic occupancy by working class families.

Susannah Place Museum provides a rare opportunity to explore domestic working class life from 1844 to 1990. It is evidence of the richness of community life that existed in The Rocks. The modest interiors and rear yards illustrate the restrictions of 19th century inner city life.

The museum housed in the Susannah Place displays the knickknacks of daily use. In fact, the number of amenities present at Susannah Place makes it distinct from the other housings of the Rocks. The layers of wallpapers adorning the walls show how tastes and designs have evolved down the years. The building still has functioning water closets, bathrooms and laundries that challenge the concept that the Rocks had always been plague and pestilence stricken. The museum has a collection that includes a bathtub, a porcelain pieces, broken bits of a doll’s face, and other usual household items that narrate silent tales of the people who are probably no more. There is also a shop that has been reconstructed out of an original 1915 store.

The Museum is a small row of four houses and a corner shop originally built for Edward and Mary Riley in 1844 and now preserved and furnished in their original condition. The Museum demonstrates how our forebears lived from the mid-19th century to the present day, while the recreated turn-of the- century shop is fully operational and sells goods from the era. Susannah Place Museum is normally only open on weekends 10am – 5pm, but is open every day in January.

Times and Prices
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm
Daily in January & NSW school holidays
Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday
Adult $8 AUS
Child/Concession $4 AUS

Location
58–64 Gloucester Street
The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 02 9241 1893

How to Get There
Circular Quay ferry and train station.

External Link
Susannah Place Museum Web Site

The Rocks History

The Rocks became established shortly after the colony’s formation in 1788. The original buildings were made mostly of local sandstone, from which the area derives its name. From the earliest history of the settlement, the area had a reputation as a slum, often frequented by visiting sailors and prostitutes. During the late 1800s, the area was dominated by a gang known as the Rocks Push. It maintained this rough reputation until approximately the 1970s.

As the landing place of 1400 men, women and children in 1788 (over half being convicts) the restored district provides the visitor a fascinating insight into Australian history. The area is located a short walk west from the Sydney Opera House. Just over 200 years ago, Captain Arthur Phillip brought his fleet of 10 square-rigged sailing ships to anchor in the peaceful little bay that was to become known as Sydney Cove. More on Sydney History.

Attractions in The Rocks

Near the Sydney Visitor Center, in Kendall Lane, you will discover one of the area’s newest attractions - The Rocks Discovery Museum. Through a series of interesting interactive exhibits, the Museum reveals the development of The Rocks from before the arrival of the first white settlers through to the beautifully preserved historical precinct we know today, that resulted from the trade union-led protests of the 1970s. The Rocks Discovery Museum is open every day 10am - 5pm and entry is free.

The Rocks Farmers’ Market will commence trading in September 2008. Click here to download an application form. The revitalized Rocks Market will also be launched in 2008 and will continue to operate every Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. The market will be located at the northern end of George Street, The Rocks and will also be expanded into other parts of The Rocks to allow for a greater number of stalls.

A must for visitors

Just across Sydney Cove from the Opera House, The Rocks district is a must for visitors to Australia. Here, buildings exuding the country’s historic past combine with today’s amenities to provide a unique precinct that caters almost completely to the visitors’ needs. There are restaurants, bistros, pubs, souvenir shops, weekend markets, music and entertainment along its main streets and squares.

Description

A palm-fringed promenade runs round Darling Harbour from the aquarium to the Australian National Maritime Museum covers the eventful history of Australian seafaring with displays of ships and articles on those whose livelihood depends on the sea; also on explorers, convicts and immigrants.

A great many relics of the rich maritime histories of many peoples of the World is kept in special marine museums. In these repositories, they are assembled, displayed and studied to learn the religious and secular history of the time, history of navigation, shipbuilding and naval battles. A number of museum exhibits reflect commercial activity and a history of scientific knowledge of the Ocean. Besides navigational tools, marine charts, models of warships and merchant fleets, these maritime museums display mock-ups of lighthouses, and models and plans of shipyards and ports. Museum halls are often decorated with artworks such as, pictures, sculptures and reliefs devoted to marine subjects.

Galleries and heritage centre

In the museum’s main white-domed building, galleries feature permanent and visiting maritime-themed exhibitions. Entry to the museum galleries is free. At the Maritime Heritage Centre on Wharf 7, behind-the-scenes tours are available which take in the conservation workshop, picture and objects store, and the Sydney heritage Fleet vessels. Entry to the heritage centre is included in the free museum ticket.

The Australian National Maritime Museum’s superb conservation facilities are located within the Wharf 7 Maritime Heritage Centre, Pyrmont, Sydney.  The Museum is currently seeking applications for Head of Conservation from experienced conservation managers/practitioners.  This position offers a unique and challenging opportunity to contribute to Australia’s maritime heritage.

Inspect the fleet of historic vessels moored at our wharves. Go on board an Australian naval destroyer, a Vietnamese refugee boat and a submarine. Don’t miss the magnificent full-scale replica of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, which you can also join on an exhilarating voyage up Australia’s coast, as a paying crew member. Inside the museum, browse our entertaining galleries, stocked with treasures like 120 years of Australian beach fashion and the world’s fastest boat.

There is plenty to do inside and outside at this well-run museum. Children will enjoy exploring the two Navy vessels; the destroyer Vampire and submarine Onslow. Inside the Museum, head to the Kids’ Deck, where staff supervise craft making, treasure maps and hunts.

The Sydney Town Hall is a landmark sandstone building located in the heart of Sydney. It stands opposite the Queen Victoria Building and alongside St Andrew’s Cathedral. Sitting above the busy Town Hall station and between the cinema strip on George Street and the Central Business District, the steps of the Town Hall are a popular meeting place.

History

The foundation stone of the first section of the Town Hall was laid on 4 April 1868 by Prince Albert, Duke of Edinburgh and comprised the current vestibule (the original Town Hall) and civic offices.  Designed by architects Wilson, Bell & Bond, this was completed in 1869.  In 1879 the City Architect Thomas Saps ford prepared plans for the completion of the building, including the Centennial Hall, all of which was opened on 27 November 1889.  The clock tower had earlier been completed in 1881 and the clock and chimes installed in 1884-1885.  Built in sandstone in an Italian Renaissance style, the building incorporates a wealth of carved detail, mosaic pavements, elaborate plasterwork, stenciling, joinery, and etched and stained glass.  The whole complex has, in recent years, been carefully restored under the direction of heritage architect Howard Tanner, and the building was re-opened on 20 February 1992 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

The Town Hall Collection

Encompassing more than 2,000 items that have been acquired by gift, purchase and bequest, the Sydney Town Hall Collection is a rich and varied resource of historical and cultural significance to the City of Sydney. Many of the items in the Collection decorate the public spaces of Sydney Town Hall and are available for public inspection. Regular changing exhibitions of items from the Collection increase public access to those items that cannot always be displayed, and provide an opportunity to celebrate significant events and anniversaries.

The Grand Organ

During the 19th century in England, it was customary for civic halls in England and the colonies to be provided with grand organs, imposing symbols of a city’s pride and its aspirations. It is therefore not surprising that plans for Sydney Town Hall included an organ of very grand dimensions. The original plans for the organ were drawn up in 1879 under the direction of Messrs. William Hill and Son of London. Their design provided for an instrument of fifty nine speaking stops, at a cost of £5,000 but was considered too modest for the city.

Sydney Town Hall symbolically reflects the city’s origins as Australia’s oldest settlement. While the building was constructed in two stages between 1866-75 and 1883-88, the latter, with its Second Empire architecture and ornate clock tower, is more visually significant. Guided tours of the site depart from the Town Hall steps. These require a minimum of 15 participants per tour. Highlights include the Vestibule, the Centennial Hall, the North and South Staircases, the Council Chambers and the Lady Mayoress’ Room, together with the Town Hall’s extensive collection of paintings and silverware.

Sydney Tower provides an aerie-like platform to view Sydney and its surrounds. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Central Coast in the north, the Blue Mountains in the west and Wollongong and the Illawarra Coast in the south.

History

Construction of the office building commenced in 1970, and tower construction began in 1975. Public access to the tower, at the time the fourth tallest building in the world, began in September 1981. The total cost of construction was A$ 36 million. Prior to construction of the tower, the height limit in Sydney had been set at 279 m, to allow for safe overflights by flying boats, an aircraft type that had been obsolescent for almost two decades.

Sydney Tower construction

The construction of Sydney Tower is an interesting tale of engineering and quality construction. Individual barrel units, arriving on-site virtually pre-made, formed the shaft of the tower. The turret structure, making up the four levels of viewing areas at the top of the tower, was in fact constructed at the base of the shaft. As work on the shaft progressed, the actual turret was raised up the shaft.

Architectural designers of the new tower were given the challenging brief to propose a facility that was not only functional but might also become a major Sydney landmark and one of the airport’s most prominent features. The result is the striking tower that stands at 51 metres and features a central support column with a passenger lift and a spiral emergency staircase. The design marked a significant departure from the previous 20 years’ of air traffic control tower planning and construction in Australia and received recognition by winning several important architectural and construction awards.

Strength

The tower structure may not seem particularly robust, but it is designed to withstand extreme earthquakes and strong gales. The tower is stabilized by 56 cables weighing 7 ton each. If the strands of all the cables were laid end to end it would reach all the way from Sydney to New Zealand. And a 162,000 liter water tank at the top of the turret acts as an enormous stabilizer. Two separate sets of stairs provide emergency exits in case of fire. During the yearly ‘Tour Run Up’ event runners race up 1304 steps (out of the total 1504).

Close to the heart of Sydney’s central business district — and just about a quarter hour’s walk from Hyde Park — is the perpetually alive tourist enclave that is Sydney’s Kings Cross. In a city that closes down quickly after nightfall, Kings Cross is one of the few places that continue to sparkle and throb throughout the night.

Kings Cross is a wild mixture of prostitution and crime, with stylish restaurants and hotels. It has visitors of all kinds and although has some slightly run down areas has a certain quality to it as well. Kings Cross is also home to one of Sydneys oldest areas, Wooloomooloo. Here, opposite the Artspace Gallery, you will find Harry’s Cafe de Wheels, open for 18 hours a day, started in 1945. It is a must visit on the way home after a night out.

History

The intersection of William Street, Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street at the locality’s southernmost limit was named Queens Cross to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee in 1897. Confusion with Queens Square in King Street in the city prompted its renaming as Kings Cross, after King Edward VII, in 1905.

Visitors to the area should be careful, especially at night, as people do get mugged here. The other thing to be careful of is the spuikers outside nightclubs: they can be intimidating and aggressive and have been a problem in recent times.

Best known to most Australians as the drug and red light capital of Australia, the “Cross” is a sleazy collection of strip clubs, adult bookshops, and tacky nightclubs. Over the years many attempts have been made to transform the area into something a little more “respectable”: small trendy cafes, restaurants, and shops have sprung up on the fringes, but the area still attracts a different type of visitor.

Location

Kings Cross is about 2 kilometers east of ‘downtown’, which is called the Central Business District, or CBD, in every Australian city. It’s surrounded by other neighborhoods on each side, so it’s not immediately apparent when you are leaving or entering the official Kings Cross neighborhood, at least until you are on the main section of Darlinghurst Road.

Sex aside, the Cross has plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars. The Bourbon and Beefsteak, which is the best known and open all night, sprang up to cater for American servicemen on leave in Sydney during the Vietnam War. It always has good live bands in the main bar playing middle of the road music, has a disco, a restaurant, plenty of memorabilia, and is generally crowded. It is a popular spot for a late Sunday breakfast with the newspapers - which Australians call brunch.

Port Jackson or Sydney Harbour, inlet of the Pacific Ocean, 22 sq mi (57 sq km), 12 mi (19 km) long and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) wide at its mouth, New South Wales, Australia, forming Australia’s finest harbor. The Parramatta River forms its western arm. Sydney on the south shore is connected with its northern suburbs by Sydney Harbour Bridge (1932), the second longest steel-arch bridge in the world, with an arch span of 1,650 ft (503 m).

Scattered around Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) and managed by National Parks of NSW are: Shark Island, Clark Island, Rodd Island, Goat Island and Fort Denison. Access to all the islands is by arrangement and is usually part of a tour group as there is an upper limit to the number of people allowed on any island at any one time. Facilities are minimal. A number of the islands allow bookings for functions.

The region of Port Jackson comprises of the whole of Sydney Harbor which is one of the greatest tourist attraction in Sydney. Ferry services are provided from the Sydney Harbor and are a great source of transportation for the people. Port Jackson is undoubtedly a great area to visit with so many of the attractions winded up together. The small islands that make up the Port Jackson are interesting ones to visit.

Geography

Geologically, Port Jackson is a drowned river valley, or ria. It is 19 km long with an area of 55 km². The estuary’s volume at high tide is 562,000 megalitres. The perimeter of the estuary is 317 kilometres. According to the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales, Port Jackson is “a harbour which comprises all the waters within an imaginary line joining North Head and South Head. Within this harbour lies North Harbour, Middle Harbour and Sydney Harbour.” These three harbours extend from the single entrance (known as Sydney Heads (North and South Heads)). North Harbour is the shortest, and is really just a large bay extending to Manly.

Port Jackson Shark

Heterodontid sharks range in size from the 59 cm long Galapagos Bullhead Shark Heterodontus quoyi, found in the Galapagos Islands and the offshore islands of Peru, to the largest species in the family, the Port Jackson Shark, which can grow to 1.65 m. More commonly, however, the males grow to 75 cm and the females between 80 cm and 95 cm. When they hatch, juvenile Port Jackson Sharks, called pups, are about 25 cm long.  There are over 370 species of sharks world wide, 166 of which occur in Australian waters. The family Heterodontidae has eight species all in the genus Heterodontus, three of which are found in Australian waters.

History

The establishment of a museum had been planned in 1821 by the Philosophical Society of Australasia, and although specimens were collected, the Society folded in 1822. In 1826, however, upon the arrival of entomologist and Fellow of the Linnean Society of London Alexander Macleay, who, after being appointed New South Wales Colonial Secretary, began lobbying for a museum.

The Australian Museum is a natural history museum with an extensive Australian wildlife collection as well as archeological items and displays from the beginnings of time. One of its galleries traces Aboriginal history from the Dreamtime to the present.

The Australian Museum is Australia’s premiere natural science museum.  It features exhibits on biology, botany, geology and environmental issues. The Australian Museum also offers interesting displays on Australia indigenous peoples.  It explores the historical, cultural and economic history of the Aboriginals. Sydney’s popular Australian Museum can be found directly across the road from Hyde Park.

For those aged five and under, the museum offers the delightful Kids’ Island, a fantasy play area, located on Level Two. This includes a shipwreck (complete with a treasure chest) and is divided into various “cubbies,” which kids can send secret messages from and to using special “sound pipes.” Best of all for parents with babies is the Nest, a special padded crawling pit for under twos, as well as baby-changing facilities and a breast-feeding area.

With the largest store of animal, mineral, fossil and anthropological specimens, it is a priceless contributor in the field of public education and entertainment. The Australian Museum in Sydney houses a large collection that ranges from zoology to mineralogy, reptiles to cultural history. The museum’s department of natural history has an extensive assortment that covers archeology, entomology, marine invertebrates, ornithology, mineralogy, and what not! It boasts of a store of 14.5 million specimens that include approximately 5,000,000 insects, 3,000,000 molluscs, 1,000,000 fishes, 1,000,000 archaeological objects, 111,000 anthropological objects and 70,000 rocks and minerals. The anthological collection includes specimens to trace the aboriginals of Asia, Africa and America.

The Australian Museum offered a guided tour that covered the museum and its offerings, including a collection of 68,000 rocks and minerals, the indigenous Australians exhibition, an array of birds and insects and ancient Egyptian artifacts. Allow yourself at least 15 minutes to browse through the museum gift shop to buy something.

The Sydney Olympic Park Authority was established on 1 July 2001. The Authority is constituted by the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Act No 57 (available by searching in the NSW Legislation site under S for the Act) which established the Sydney Olympic Park Authority as a statutory authority, with responsibility to manage the public assets of Sydney Olympic Park - open space, venues, parklands and development areas. The legislation focuses on ensuring the best use and management of a large and unique area right in the geographical centre of Sydney, an area which is a world renowned destination.

Sydney Olympic Park is the geographical centre of Sydney, only 25 minutes from the CBD and airport, and close to many shopping centres including Rhodes, Parramatta, Burwood, Macquarie Centre and DFO (Direct Factory Outlet). Public transport is available close to the hotel, providing good links for touring Sydney. For something different, head down to Olympic Park Wharf and catch the Sydney Ferries Rivercat into the CBD. From there you can catch another ferry to Manly or Taronga Zoo, or simply explore the historic Rocks and CBD shops.

Sydney Olympic Park Archers

Sydney Olympic Park Archers are based at the Sydney Olympic Archery Centre, host venue of the archery events for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The club offers members some of the best target archery facilities available in the country and is open to members for shooting 7 days a week. Regular clubs shoots are held each weekend with a variety of other social and competitive events offered throughout the year.

Athletic Center

The Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre is ready for action and can accomodate a wide range of track and field and other sports. Built to Olympic and International Accredited Athletic Federation Standards, Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre has hosted the Grand Prix, the Sydney Marathon, the National Championships and the World Junior Championships. During the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was the Warm-Up Arena for the elite athletes of the world. It’s also a magnificent multi-purpose venue. It’s big and flexible enough to cater for a huge range of events and activities!

Novotel Sydney Olympic Park

Location: Located in the centre of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games venue, the property is close to Bicentennial Park, International Athletic Centre, Olympic Park Railway Station, Sydney Arena and Telstra Stadium.

Rooms: Guests are offered a choice of 177 comfortable guestrooms that are contemporarily decorated and provided with a host of modern amenities. All guest rooms and suites also offer panoramic, uniterrupted views overlooking Olympic Park. Specially adapted rooms for the guests with disabilities are also available.

Description

Macquarie Street, running north from Queens Square, was Sydney’s most popular and most fashionable street, particularly in the second half of the 19th C, when two and three-storey houses in the Italian style, with verandas and views of the Domain and the harbor, were built here. In Macquarie Street are two relics of the early days of the colony, the Mint and Parliament House, both occupying wings of the old ‘Rum Hospital’. The original track through the bush was named after Governor Macquarie in 1810, and 30 years later it was continued northward to Fort Macquarie, now Bennelong Point, the site of the Opera House. Since the building of Sydney Hospital in 1894 Macquarie Street has had strong medical associations.

Using its in-house team of engineers trained in industrial rope access, Arup abseiled down each column. With handheld computers loaded with Geographic Information System (GIS) software, the team efficiently recorded the condition of all 6000 limestone panels directly to CAD models. This allowed Arup to accurately quantify the deterioration of the façade, recording inspection information directly to contract drawings.

Other luxury features include reverse cycle air conditioning, concierge service, excellent security & privacy are assured & secure under ground parking. Resort style facilities include indoor heated pool, well equipped gym & sauna. Walk to the city centre, The Botanical Gardens, Circular Quay & an array of cafes, restaurants & speciality shops.

These three buildings were constructed around 1870 to provide staff offices and accommodation. They were demolished in 1952 to make way for the law courts building that remains on the site today. These stairs appear to have been a favourite subject for photographers working in Sydney around 1930 for they appear in several photographs published in newpapers of the time.

Breathtaking views of the Harbour Bridge and quality finishes throughout, this 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom apartment boasts a rare 31sqm outdoor terrace, balcony and grand entrance. Perfect for entertaining, this expansive residence also features central climate control, storage, security parking space and full facilities including a 25m heated pool, gymnasium, 24-hour electronic security and concierge.

Macquaire Street Investment

Specialist medical suite occupied by ‘The Ortho Practice’ a leading orthodontics dental service located upon Level 10 ‘Park House’ 187 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Overlooking the Botanical Gardens through to Sydney Harbour, Suite 43 represents exactly what investors seek - quality, presentation, position and ‘future upside’ as assured through the security of tenure and low maintenance. Walking through Suite 43, you’ll appreciate the level of detail undertaken through a most recent fitout. The images attached speak louder than our words!