Wednesday 27 October 2010

Walk all over it


The Downing Centre is on the corner of Elizabeth Street and Liverpool Street on the Central Station end of the CBD. It houses part of the District Court of New South Wales.


In a previous life, this building housed the Mark Foy's department store. The magnificent mosaic in the foyer, dates from this earlier incarnation. The brothers Foy commenced to trade from this building in 1909 and ceased when the firm went into receivership in 1980. They had installed Australia's first escalator in 1964 - just yesterday! Mark Foy was responsible for the Hydro Majestic in Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains.

16 comments:

Jack said...

Beautiful! I'm glad the later owners haven't removed this beautiful mosaic.

Kay L. Davies said...

Jack is right, although I can't even imagine removing something so beautiful. Floor murals have always surprised me, though, because people "walk all over" them.
Interesting and lovely shots, as usual, Julie. Thanks.

Kay, Alberta

Ann said...

Beautiful. Must have a look one day. Haven't been in there since it was Mark Foy's and don't remember the mosaic at all.

Jim said...

Beautiful close up of the mosaic. I've walked past there many times but can't say I've noticed it before. Must pay more attention next time.

Jayne said...

Lovely mosaic, good to see commonsense has prevailed in retaining such a beauty :)

Vicki said...

Magnificent indeed. And timeless.

Peter said...

I hope you weren't in there as a defendant!

Julie said...

*grin* ... hardly ... but ... but ... I am going to try to get in as a 'busybody' ...

They have a really good JP service on the ground floor. Have to go through security, but.

Rinkly Rimes said...

I'm so glad it wasn't destroyed!

Jilly said...

Clever you! I can never photograph floors successfully. A good lesson for me here! And how beautiful it is.

Thanks for the comment on the beard. I'd not thought of a beard as interesting as hands - don't get me started!

Thanks Julie x

Joan Elizabeth said...

I don't think I ever went into Mark Foys when it was a department store. As for the Hydro ... it is sadly closed at the moment.

Julie said...

It suffered when all the retailing consolidated around the Pitt Street Mall. Also the Museum Station was not the most-used station (although by far the most attractive!).

I went in there because my father's Aunt Olive worked in there. I have a photo of me (scowling) on the front steps.

Elaine coolowl said...

Mark Foy's was the top spot around Christmas-time for a kid in Sydney - window displays of such complexity and detail! Enchanted caves, fairy tales - all moving, beautifully dressed figures. Remember running up the 'down' escalator at DJs (?) in the late '40s.

Superb photo of a magnificent mosaic; seeing more of Sydney through the lens than I ever did as a kid!

Kevin said...

Thank you for showing us this beautiful piece of history. I have been nearby but have never seen this mosaic.

Francisca said...

Spectacular mosaic on the floor!

Julie said...

Glad you like it!