'Tis a slippery slope ...

These are the Moore Steps on East Circular Quay, originally built between two massive wool stores about 1868. Who was Moore? Charles Moore was the Lord Mayor of Sydney from 1867-1869, but was lso an alderman on the council, and sat in both Houses of State Parliament at various times. There are plaques with his name on in various parts of the city. He was an "improver". Moore Park is named after him, as he investigated the Botany Swamps and determined that, maintained with care they would be a benefit to the city. In his mayoralty, the site for the Town Hall was acquired, plans drawn and the foundation stone laid. He had the Tank stream covered (changing Semi-circular Quay to just Circular Quay), Macquarie Street extended to Circular Quay (henc, these steps), and the Tarpeian Way formed. He had plans drafted for an underground railway to Circular Quay, and Martin Place used to be called Moore Street. Our current Lord Mayor is also named Moore. She is an improver, too.

Blast from the past

I know this SAYS the "Darval Rd Gate'. However, it is on Cook Road, Moore Park where it intersects with Darvall Street. But hey!

The Sydney Showground has not been on this site for, I'm guessing, a quarter of a century. I wonder how often this gate gets used?

Eye of the beholder

Many of Sydney's grand old ladies of the street, are sagging, and tawdry, and best viewed in intricate detail. A landscape view is more than my besotted heart can bear. Especially of those that inhabit the streets of Moore Park. Along with the wood rot in the rafters, they have had more facelifts, tummy tucks, and botox than can be assayed along Sunset Boulevard. But then, perhaps that is to be expected, as many of them date from the 1870s.

Nick from Melbourne has written one of the better posts on wrought iron that I have read. Yes, yes. Believe you me. Go and read for yourself.

The land of the eternal hibiscus

The Hibiscus is the national flower of South Korea, and makes a striking emblem at the memorial in Moore Park for those who served, and those who died during the Korean War, 1950 - 1953. During this time, 340 Australians died, and another 18 died before all Australian troops were withdrawn in 1957.

Left: Private York's position in the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Right: Majon'ni, Korea, 9th June 1953. Unidentified men of C Company, 2RAR, in the trenches of left forward Company position on 'The Hook' after relieving 1st Battalion King's Regiment

One of those who sacrificed all was Private Gordon William York, aged 24 from Dubbo, who was born at Barmedman in the SW of the state. He was a member of the 2nd Batallion Royal Australian Regiment which, after training at Puckapunyal, was shipped to the peninsula aboard MV New Australia, arriving on 17 March 1953. The work was monotonous and dangerous, with many casualties caused by mines. 2RAR patrolled sections of the Jamestown line, in the area of the Imjin and Samichon Rivers. On 14 June 1953, Private York was killed in action. The armistic came into effect on 27th July, 1953.

Lest we Forget

Taronga Zoo 1916

Bear with me if I state that this is from the 'cute' school of architecture. This wasn't the first site for a zoo in Sydney. That honour lies with a section of Moore Park which today houses Sydney Boys' High School which was a zoo in the 1880s. That area became too small and from just after 1910 the state government was looking for another site, eventually dedicating 50 odd acreages of prime harbour foreshore. The zoo opened in October 1916 and all these top gate buildings were original at that time.

The word 'taronga' means 'beautiful view' in an aboriginal dialect.


However, when reading the history of Taronga on their site, it occurred to me that a smidge of air-brushing had been going on. I think the first time I went to the zoo was in 1954 when I was 6. Elephant rides were all the go. But ... but ... I remember the name of Sir Edward Hallstrom being instrumental in the history of Taronga Zoo. But no longer it seems. I had to go to Wiki for information.


Hallstrom was an engineer who made his money designing and manufacturing refridgerators between the wars. His best known brand was the Silent Knight range. He made a motza and went into philanthropy in a big way.

But he had neither training nor experience in fauna, native or otherwise. And it was he who was instrumental in setting up concrete pits for the early animals. This is my earliest memory: animals pacing up and down in concrete pits was down below me. Of gorillas in square cages. Cages, cages, cages ... And Hallstrom bore the brunt of the change in the way animals were treated. And respected.

I am not unhappy with the change, and the zoo today is a remarkable place. I just don't like airbrushing. For any reason. I do like these cute buildings, though.

A tough terrain for cyclists

Being essentially hills and gullies, Sydney is a tough terrain for cyclists. The harbour is a drowned valley, and the cityscape covers promontories that run down like fingers to the water. So getting around on a bicycle is no easy going. And the roads are just a maze of goat-tracks, really - macadamised goat-tracks, but still goat-tracks. This young woman nipped across Moore Park Road just outside the Football Stadium which is next door to the Sydney Cricket Ground. As she pushed her way up to Oxford Street, I wondered how far she would get. At about the half-way point, she got off and pushed.