| Looking east up William St from Hyde Park, 1890 |
The replications here are not spot on: mainly because I did not know I was going to treat them as a 'Then & Now'.
Firstly, with the shots I took yesterday, it is obvious that the Lord Mayor's plan to soften William Street is working a treat. There is a way to go before it is a 'boulevard', but I am liking what I see thus far.
As for the 1890 shot, it is from the National Library (oops), so I gather it to be accurate. Hard to believe it is the same street, do you agree? I might wander the street and do a feature on it. Both William and Oxford Streets are in the financial doldrums.
| Looking west down William St from the top of the Cross, 2012 |
| Looking east up William Street from Forbes St, 2012 |
For those who know Sydney, I think the photographer was standing close to the intersection of Park and College Streets, meaning that the forecourt of St Marys has that imposing house, and the tree-lined fence is around the Museum. I am researching for a series. Hang in there.
17 comments:
Great shots Julie. Walked William Street many times.
It looks like a nice street to walk, then AND now, Julie.
K
Amazing comparison- only the slope seems the same- but then there is a very long gap between the photos, really interesting Julie.
Chrissy at Mancunian Wave photo blog
Love that!
I love the add of the "then" photo. And for a minute there I thought I saw my car.
I love now and then shots. Oh poor old William St. I featured a Slessor poem yesterday and 'William St' is also a favourite.
I think this street has always been made into something it isn't, I think its been in the doldrums since the first cow wandered east and made a track. It has always been down at heel no matter how much they try and turn it into a European Boulevard.
Very, very different then and now. Even with the greening, I still don't like it much.
What a contrast. Interesting old shot.
I love the before and after images, what a difference some tree make to an avenue, it's not the Champs Élysées and hopefully never will be,it's Sydney and unique!
I hope your daughters are having a fabulous time in Perth Julie, the weather has been a treat,couldn't be better. Would have been great if you had come too though.
'Then and now' shots are fascinating. This is a great capture.
Agree, the tree planting and festive flags (albeit on ugly 'smart poles') work a treat.
Grace: my daughter and g/daughter. This is my ex-husband's family ...
Dalloway: The style of the street is growing on me. I want to find out whether it was widened in 1909-1911 as was Oxford St. I do not know the expression 'smart pole' but gather it is this style and has many uses. I would prefer the graceful street lamp as in the Brisbane street pole of yesterday.
I typed a comment earlier this morning then all your blogs disappeared into google gobble land. I am glad to see they are back ... I nearly had a fit when that happened to me recently.
Anyway, I think I said that your images confuse me because the slope of the street looks identical but you captions say one is looking east and the other west.
It hardly seems the same street so much has changed.
It sure looks nicer than it did in the 60's.
Joan: I did have a fit this morning. Needless to say I have worked hard with security all day.
The photos do show William Street coming and going. I cheated though and did not walk all the way down to College St to take the shot to the east. My stick and I had walked for three hours by then, and I wanted to find a 389 bus quick.
The sight of all those mature trees in a busy street like this is heartwarming. Our trees in the heart of the city seem to be such spindly things.
Wow, what changes!
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