Hyde Park - A road runs through it

Taken in 2013 from Sydney Tower. A better view of Macquarie St is impeded by buildings.

There was Macquarie Street. There was Macquarie Street North. And there was Macquarie Street South. Macquarie Street North still runs from the Opera House Forecourt to Bent St (the State Library corner). Macquarie Street runs from Bent St to Prince Albert Road/St James Road. Macquarie Street South no longer exists. The stretch from Liverpool Street down to Wentworth Ave was renamed Commonwealth St in 1905. It had appeared on the original subdivision of the Fosterville Estate in 1843 as Macquarie St. There was a Little Macquarie St parallel to Commonwealth St, but it was renamed Alberta St in 1896. I do not know when the road running north-south through Hyde Park was removed, but my guess would be around the turn of the century.

Left: View of Macquarie St 1842, (John Rae)(State Library NSW) Right: View of Macquarie St, 1830-1850 (Ellis)(State Library NSW)

I was amazed when I found the above two sketches of an early Hyde Park. I had no idea that Macquarie Street had bisected it. Park street bisected the park east-west in 1831. Park St, in the guise of William Street, ran up to Kings Cross from 1834. So, from 1831 to close to the end of the 19th century, Hyde Park was split into quadrants. No wonder Macquarie Street was truncated!

Hyde Park (2007) commissioned from Airview by Dictionary of Sydney

I am indebted to the City of Sydney, for their excellent "History of Sydney Streets"

Skywatch - the value of looking up

Whilst doddling down to Central Station one day last week, I looked up and not only did I see the sky but also this old warehouse on the corner of Commonwealth and Elizabeth Streets. James Griffith established Griffiths Bros. in Melbourne in 1879 in a warehouse in Flinders Street. Being entrepreneurial, he soon established warehouses in other capital cities. The company is now owned by brothers, Peter and Dennis Patisteas only the third set of owners in 130 years.


A lot of the building is in a sad state of disrepair, even the faded sign has been defaced with an arrow! This is a danger signal, as the surrounding area is awash with multi-storey apartment blocks!


Around the back of the building, the short edge of the wedge, the decay is much more apparent, with windows cracked, pipes rusted away, and the removal of fire escapes leaving doorways treacherous.


Down on street level, I am not convinced that the sign "From factory to you" is associated with Griffiths Teas. Firstly the font is out of place, and secondly, that expression does not seem to go with either tea or coffee.


A member of the Skywatch Friday community.