CBD - Bringing laneways to life

Interesting results from a meander down York Street on Saturday, from Town Hall to Carrington Street at Wynyard, to catch my bus. Waiting for pedestrians to walk across my stage does not always improve the shot, but does provide information on what to look for next time. The three guys in Mullins Street added nothing to the image. They just stood there. One person walking ar gesticulating is better. They took f.o.r.e.v.e.r. I quite like the empty driveway in the pair below. One bloke would've been better than two, but caught at the right-hand drain-gutter. I was back an appropriate distance to allow the figures to provide perspective on the size of the built landscape. The final pair of shots did not work at all. I had taken these on a previous meander down towards the Quay. Too many directions: Person 1 coming toward me; Person 2 cutting across me. Person 2 is way too big, meaning I should have been on t'other side of road. The splash of red is nice but the bollard cuts across the perspective down the lane. Lots to teach myself.

Mullins Street between York and Clarence Streets

This is not a named lane, just the back entrance to the "Clarence Street Cyclery"

Although I am standing on Tank Stream Way to take the shots, the passage is Abercrombie Lane.

l'histoire de faux

Fake ageing - like fake French - confounds me. I can understand why the perpetrators descend to this. The are scrabbling around for an ambience on which to hang their narrative. This is Albion Place in the CBD, which runs from George Street through to Kent Street, between Bathurst and Liverpool Streets. It has been an access-way since 1834. Melburnians call them "laneways", and create wonders, which are abuzz with bustling citizens. Real folk: meeting, chiacking, guffawing, spending. Here in Sydney we create a dead-zone, of use to some of the people, some of the time. So, what is faux here? Specifically, the three wall signs which are all for Black Country businesses back in the United Kingdom. The Walsall FC team are known as "The Saddlers" because of the proliferation of that sort of venture, in that area, in the second half of the 19th century. Whether applied new, or touched-up, the signs are shockers. Fairbanks, Lavender and Sons are listed in the 1900 edition of Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire as harness manufacturers. Handford-Greatrex and Co. Ltd. have an extensive listing in the same directory: "Coach, saddle, bridle and harness leather; goods specially prepared and packed for export". Bedstead and fender makers, S.F. Turner, had their works in Dock Lane, Dudley. The business was established in 1840 and is remembered today for the safes they made, with many examples surviving. What does history - real history - tell us about Albion Place? I'll tell you Thursday: need to get the story straight in my head; and need more photos to show you.

To close, here are two images of George Street close to Albion Place. On the left is an 1873 image, in which you can see the spire of Christ Church St Laurence in the distance. On the right,a similar angle but totally different view, as you would expect. But,you can still see the spire. What do I hear you say? Can't be! George Street has a different incline. Indeed, they chopped off the top, and filled in the bottom. Cross my heart ...

An allotment past its priime

With visions of yours truly in the role of Miss Marple floating before my eyes, I peered between the overgrown hedges into a tired, and very blousy allotment. Here in the land downunder, we don't call them an allotment, but a community garden. Not that this was either, actually. It is just that the block of land slopes so terribly that the backgarden is level with the roof of the house below. And, you know what they say: 'out of sight is out of mind'. This though is perfect for a joint garden between neighbours, except for that ownership thing that we have in this country for real-estate. And heaven help anyone who sets a toe across a neighbour's boundary. Shame that the communal ownership of our indigenous citizens is not more popular. This had a great pumpkin vine among the weeds. And an orange tree heavy with fruit. A lemon likewise. Plus two lime trees similarly weighed down. Do you know that I bought six lemons this afternoon, and each lemon cost me 98c.