Art IS civilization. It’s a measure of how advanced or not society has become. Thus, when I see a new gallery opening up I should be pleased. I’m not. Not all the art at Circular Quay is bad How many millions were spent on the new North Wing of the N.S.W. Art Gallery and howContinue reading ” THE GALLERY”
Category Archives: history
A PARK CALLED OATLEY
It’s fair to suggest that, other than those who live nearby, few would have heard of a park in Sydney called Oatley. It’s one of many areas of interest that abound in the city that tourists overlook. Personally, I’m glad, because it’s busy enough as it is! Still, during the week it’s not crowded andContinue reading “A PARK CALLED OATLEY”
WATKIN STREET, WHO KNEW?
Yes, I realise it wasn’t lost, but people living just a few blocks away are unaware of its existence, so, perhaps a more accurate description would be “overlooked”. It’s maybe a reflection of the inner suburbs of Sydney that people seemingly aren’t that interested in either the historic architecture or the large bodyContinue reading ” WATKIN STREET, WHO KNEW?”
NOT ALL CATHEDRALS ARE CREATED EQUAL
Chartres was the goal, the “jewel in the crown of Gothic architecture”. We’d left Charles du Gaulle airport in record time, heading south in a rented Opel that smelt like a 50’s pub in Oz. It absolutely reeked of cigarette and, had it been easy to turn around and go back, we would have returnedContinue reading “NOT ALL CATHEDRALS ARE CREATED EQUAL”
RIVERBOAT POSTMAN
Imagine, for whatever strange reason (to the normal world) that you’ve decided to build by the water with no road access whatsoever. It’s around the turn of the 19th/20th century, just living is a significant problem. However, there is a whole world out there of which you know very little in terms of current affairs. Continue reading “RIVERBOAT POSTMAN”
BALMAIN BUGGED
As I parted with my $25, the lady was clearly smiling. Then again, she hadn’t stopped since she first spoke. I’d arrived at the Watch House, an original sandstone gem somewhere down Darling Street, on a rare day when it’s open. I was purchasing a book on Streets, Lanes and Places because I felt aContinue reading “BALMAIN BUGGED”
STREETS AHEAD
I stood surprised. Here was a painting by Arthur Streeton. How it had managed to stay on display in the Chau Chak Museum (more in another article) mystified me because, not that far away at the Streeton Exhibition at the N.S.W. Art Gallery, they had clearly sourced far and wide. This one had escaped theirContinue reading “STREETS AHEAD”
KNOW MY NAME
it was strange was immediately obvious. A fallen and malleable Greek Corinthian style pillar; who knows, it might have once graced the Parthenon but – just when you least expect it – it moves! Snake like, it seems to follow you, about to pounce but, fear not! Its title is “Hello”. As Friedrich Nietzsche onceContinue reading “KNOW MY NAME”
THE SOON-TO-BE ICON
There are buildings in Australia that are inspirational. Obviously, the Sydney Opera House, MONA Gallery in Hobart, the post office in Perth, Melbourne’s historic district and a raft of others but, I would boldly suggest, none of them will retain your interest longer than the adventurous and highly imaginative National Museum of Australia in Canberra. Continue reading “THE SOON-TO-BE ICON”
ATTAINING NOB HILL
I’d gone at an earlier time to do the great tram ride. Having learnt the day before that the queue can be blocks long I made an effort to avoid them in order to ride this archaic and uncomfortable method of public transport that was mooted for destruction in 1947 until an ultimately partially-successful “SaveContinue reading “ATTAINING NOB HILL”
Taking You To Places You've Never Been 