 |
In an era where the mobile phone is replacing the wrist watch, it is still possible to find the time by public time piece. Above is the first public clock in Australia, atop Hyde Park Barracks in Macquarie Street. Built at the behest of Governor Lachlan Macquarie whose bicentenary we celebrate this year (1810 - 1821), it was designed by the convict architect, Francis Greenway.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
| Top left: Sydney Town Hall clock, George Street Top right: Clock atop the GPO in Martin Place Mid left: Clock on the Central Station tower Mid right: Clock on the main concourse inside Central Station Bottom left: Clock on the old Fays Shoe Shop, corner Liverpool & Castlereagh Sts Bottom right: Orchard Time clock at Railway Square atop the Raben Shoe Shop. |
Below is the clock face atop the ANC (Australasian Steam Navigation Company) Building facing Campbell's Cove beneath the Harbour Bridge, which was designed in 1884 by William Wilkinson Wardell who also designed St Mary's Cathedral.
 |
20 comments:
I love clocks and I really loved this post, Julie. Each one so unique.
Wonderful photos and brilliant post!
Greetings
Amazing compilation.
I am a big fan of clocks Julie and these are all lovely! I especially like the Orchard clock. It's so unusual and interesting.
I don't own a mobile phone, but I have few wrist watches. Nice photos here.
What a wonderful collection of clocks! They are each so unique and impressive. Neat idea for a post!
What a great idea for a post. I love the pictures. I think I'm going to start photographing clocks and do a series in the future. The variety of clocks that you displayed is wonderful. Thanks for the inspiration. :)
Convict Architect? Did I get that right? I remember reading that Australia served as a penal colony for Great Britain. Pardon me while I google Wikipedia. Interesting. Oh, and a wonderful collection of handsome clocks thank you very much.
Golly, I was concerned that this would be post that few people found of interest. Thank you very much for your positive response.
James, it has taken quite sometime to collect all these clocks, and I have collected many more since that are a little more secluded.
Bill, if I am right, Australia is the only country established by whiteman as a penal settlement. We had a vibrant aboriginal society well before the First Fleet in 1788. I am working up posts to pay respects to Governor Macquarie so you will learn lots more in the next two months.
All, I was quite surprised to realise how similar three of these clocks are, but they can be distinugished by the clock face in each case.
You've gathered a fine collection of clocks there Julie. Thanks for the heads up on the vats at Pyrmonts Point Park. I had no idea that was their previous use and was actually thinking they had something to do with shipping. I do have another shot of them to share later in the week but I'm struggling to find any information about them. I assume they must have been part of the rum distillery on this site. Do you have any info about them or know where I could look?
Sydney - City and Suburbs
Great clocks. I love clocks, especially with Roman numerals.
Great post Julie, collections are such fun. I didn't know the Hyde Park clock was the first ... I love the Francis Greenway buildings ... the architecture is so elegantly simple.
When we were on our big trip I was surprised in one of the towns (Hay I think) by the town hall clock chiming very loudly ... just not something I expect in a quiet country town.
Jim, I have located my own shots of the vats, but there is no plaque along with the shots. From memory there was no explanation (which I normally photograph too to get the details right). However, there is some wording on the end of the vats which I will try to read later today when I get back. They are beautiful pieces of industrial sculpture.
What a terrific idea to do collection like this. Your coffers must be FULL if you can spare this many in one day!LOL I think the one that reminds me of the Musée d'Orsay is my favorite .......but you knew that!
Oh and I"ve been meaning to tell you how lovely your profile photo is!
V
How clever of Edward Fay to realise he could advertise at the same time because of the number of letters!
Most of these I recognise but I have never noticed the one on the old Fays building - that's a blast from the past.
Julie, you are wasting your time with all this computer stuff. You should be escorting hordes of Japanese tourists around Sydney and making a fortune for yourself with 10% for me.
Bruce.
ps. You would like it in, I think it's called, Marian Platz Munich. I stood in one spot and without moving I could see 11 or 12 such clocks.
Bruce.
A great idea for a post. I remember some of these. Wow the first clock in Australia. Boy you can dig up some interesting info.
Nice collection of time-pieces!
Post a Comment