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"

Sydney from on high (6)

I have swung right around nearly to where I started this series 6 days ago. This must be close to due east. There are two city streets intersecting where Hyde Park North meets Hyde Park South. The street with the bus, and the red cars in it, is William Street. At this very intersection the name of the street changes to Park street. If you continue up the street (to the left) you will reach Kings Cross. If you continue down the street (to the bottom of the image) you will reach the Sydney Town Hall. The street that runs across the image is College Street. There are two major buildings fronting College Street. The one on the corner with William Street is the Australian Museum of Natural History It is the building with the vast expanses of green roof. The building next in is Sydney Grammar School. You can see its quadrangle playground. Here use this magnifying glass. This school is the reason the street is College Street. From 1830 to 1850, the sandstone building fronting the street was Sydney College. That sandstone building is called "Big School". Is is a greater public school, and they are allowed to have boy-jokes like that. In 1852, the building, supported by an act of parliament was reopened as SGS, specifically as a feeder for the newly established University of Sydney, out on Petersham Hill. From the observation level of the Sydney Tower, Sydney, Australia.

Sydney from on high (2)

Hyde Park South from the Observation Deck of Sydney Tower in Pitt Street. Hyde Park was established by Governor Macquarie. He pretty much left it to its own devices, as he was fighting fires on way too many fronts, what with the uppity military, and the free-settler disdain for the pardoned convict, that alone Commissioner Bigge and his listening to tattle-tales. So, Hyde Park was used as a military parade ground. It was used for cricket matches. It was used as a distribution point for water from Busby's Bore. It was a bit of a scruffy dust-bowl, if the truth were told. Building of the ANZAC Memorial seen here in the centre of the southern section of the park, commenced in 1930 during the height of the Great Depression, and the Memorial was officially opened on 24 November 1934. Hyde Park is just over 40 acres. I would love to know when Park Street cut through the park, but cannot seem to winkle it out.

Feeling round the bend!

This is my contribution to the Weekend in Black and White community.

I have added this following photograph - from the City of Sydney image library - as an explanation of my tags. The steps can be seen in this 1956 image. They are still recognisable. However, all the buildings are gone, and replaced by lawn. This was a Long Day Care and Women's Health Centre, built in 1952 and demolished somewhere between 1987 and 1989. This is Hyde Park (south) from the corner of Park and Elizabeth Streets. You can see the War Memorial in the background.

(Girl with pole) x 2

This is my contribution to the Walk in the Street Challenge.