Monday 16 August 2010

A golden oldie


Thursday evening at the very beginning of the homeward 'rush', commuters stride up the rise to Paddington Town Hall, built in the 1880s, the foundation stone bearing the proud name, Sir Henry Parkes. The clock tower was added in 1905. Within this building is my local library, and a cinema, Chauvel, which screens independent and foreign language films. The last film I saw there was 'Me and Orson Welles. We are looking east.


Looking west in 1960, back the way we just came,we see trams coming and going. Our current Paddington Reservoir Gardens was a delapidated service station. The creamy yellow is a much better shade for the Town Hall, don't you think?


A member of the Mellow Yellow Monday community.

21 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Lovely shots. The street doesn't seem to have changed that much. Love the trams in the old picture.

Randy said...

I love the rich blue sky in your evening shot. Bravo.

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie, How lovely to see the "then and now" photos. The clock tower is so pretty. Hope this is the beginning of a great week for you.

Jo said...

Excellent now and then photos. I grew up with trams running down the streets of Cape Town, Johanneburg and Durban. Thanks for the memories. PS I like the sign" Cat Vet. Is this a cat doctor sign or a movie? (LOL!)

'Tsuki said...

Love the presentation, with this ancient photographie of the same location... Well done !

Boom Nisanart said...

Great posted ! ...My favorite is the first one !

Joan Elizabeth said...

Can't say I've ever noticed this building. As always I enjoy your history posts.

Jim said...

It's one of the best Town Hall buildings in Sydney.

brattcat said...

Is there really a vet working exclusively with cats behind that classy shingle?

Francisca said...

Julie, did you take that cool '60s photo? I like the warm cream of today, but I also don't mind the off-white with the light blue trim of yesteryear. Looks like those are fast moving clouds on a windy day in that third photo.

Liz said...

Wonderful photos!

Happy MYM!

Liz @ MLC

Animor said...

Oh that's fantastic photos, I like the first one with the building lights.

Mine is here:

http://kalingawankoikaw.siromade08.com/2010/08/collections-of-blue.html#comments

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Looks like your forefather first built your town hall, and then came to Auckland to build ours. http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2010/05/abc-wednesday-letter-r-railings.html

I didn't post a photo of our exterior, but if you go to this link, you will find another link to show the exterior. I will post a photo for you.

Have you been to Auckland?

Thanks for visiting.

Anonymous said...

I like your photos - and too the building been used by lots of people daily ;-)

LadyNoor said...

What photo collections you have.. Great shots Julie, as always.

Unknown said...

oh i love looking the old and new photos..it was like the past, present, and i am looking for the future hehe..

i was there to your other blog and wow, those pictures were great, that katherine..?? so lovely.

thanks again for the visit and comment for my MYM.

Yami said...

I love to look at old photographs...

Thanks for the nice comment that you left on my site. My daughter was happy to read your comment here http://www.yamtorrecampo.com/2010/08/15/drawings-then-and-now/.

Have a wonderful day! :)

Kim, USA said...

What a great way to remember the past. Pictures can tell all. Great shots! Happy Monday!
Sunflower
Blue Monday

Carolyn Ford said...

That's the beauty of photography...taking a glimpse back to the past. Too bad the trams aren't still there. They add such charm to a place (in my opinion).

Julie said...

I agree that the trams add much charm. The problem with Sydney with trams is that the topography is veeery undulating and the existing streets very narrow. I would like to see them return in the CBD, though, and have other vehicles restricted to specific roads.

Stephanie V said...

Great idea putting a then and now photo set. think that concept might make a great meme!
Thanks for the visit!