What is the tallest building in Sydney. Must-see buildings in Australia
Like a flower reaching for the sun, man raises his structures, striving to comprehend the heavenly expanses. In the global race to become the “best”, solutions are being improved and opportunities are evolving. Cities are growing at an incredible rate, and not just in breadth.
Planning, construction principles and, of course, materials are being improved. The construction of huge buildings no longer requires thickening of the walls, which means it gives greater freedom to the architect, allowing him to create giants unimaginable by physical laws. This leads to the fact that the peaks soaring above the city no longer surprise anyone. And yet, there are those that you want to talk about and that you want to see.
Tallest skyscrapers in the world
Recently, there has been a tendency to move the construction of high-format structures from the West and Europe to China, United Arab Emirates and Japan. The most interesting representatives of heavenly houses are the 818-meter building "Burj Dubai" in Dubai, the tower with rapid elevators "Taipei 101" in Taiwan, the tallest Chinese building "Shanghai World Financial Center" and two twins "PETRONAS Twins Towers", connected by the first in world air bridge, in Malaysia.
Australia can also be proud of its architectural achievements. Among the tallest buildings in the Southland are the Sydney Tower, the Eureka Tower, and the country's tallest building, the Q1 Tower, or Queensland number one.
The tallest skyscraper. Australia
The latter is of great interest as a landmark and as architectural monument Sydney Olympics. Let's take a closer look at this amazing skyscraper.
"Q1 Tower" - the tallest skyscraper in the Southland
The tallest building in Australia is considered to be a skyscraper with the symbolic name “Queensland Number 1”. At its champion height, Q1 Tower embodies the ideas of Olympic glory. The sporting response is reflected both in the architectural form of the building, in the form of the Sydney Olympic torch, and in the name, because Q1 is the name of the Australian rowing team at the 1920 Olympics.
A torch directed towards the sky is located in tourist city Gold Coast. This is a large center that is often compared to the pearl of the UAE, Dubai. The Gold Coast, like the center of the Emirates, is famous for the large influx of guests from different parts of the world. Also, the main source of income here is services and tourism. But the main similarity between these cities is in the architecture, which successfully conquers the skies. The Australian equivalent of Dubai is famous for its high-rise buildings. There are really a lot of them here, but Queensland is the highest.
What's surprising is that Q1 Tower is a residential building. Before the opening of Marina Torch in the Emirates, Queensland No. 1 was considered the tallest permanent residence building in the world. Its height with a spire is 245 meters and includes 78 floors and 526 apartments.
Construction of the skyscraper began in 2002 according to the architectural design of SDG & The Buchan Group. The work was carried out for three years, and on the opening day in 2005, Q1 was the champion in height, overtaking the high-rise buildings of Dubai.
"Q1 Tower" was recognized not only for its impressive growth, but also for its ingenious execution. The Emporis Skyscraper Award awarded Queensland the Silver Award for Best Project.
The architectural design of the torch is based on 26 piles driven to a depth of 40 meters; they reach hard rocky soil, penetrating 4 meters into it.
Q1 Tower - the largest residential building in Australia
The skyscraper has 1, 2 and 3-room apartments, as well as a luxurious penthouse with a swimming pool on the 74th floor. People living on the top floors get to their apartment in less than a minute, thanks to lightning-fast elevators, of which there are 10. In addition to fast travel, Queensland delights residents with a theatre, spa center, sports complex and observation deck. The latter is located on the 77-78th floor, where there is also a cinema hall and a restaurant. The roof of the building attracted parachuting athletes as the highest jumping platform.
The champion spirit of the building also captured its upper structure - the spire. The antenna is 97.7 meters long and is the longest antenna structure in the world.
"Q1 Tower" - the most sporty skyscraper in the world
Sleek, elegant and majestic, the Q1 Tower is a symbol of the Gold Coast, and it is no coincidence that the building was opened on its 150th anniversary. In addition, it is also the main attraction of the entire state of Queensland and its pride. It carries the ideas of championship and leadership. Cutting through the clouds and adjacent to the ocean, this skyscraper does not fade against the backdrop of natural majesty, but proudly and monumentally rises above the city, singing a song of courage and perseverance.
The architecture of Australia reflects the free spirit, as well as the liberal attitude of the people towards the history, culture and traditions of the country. Let's look at 10 famous buildings in Australia that should show us that.
– Downtown High-Rises, Sydney, New South Wales
Top 10 Australia
Buildings in Australia
This list includes buildings included in tourist excursions, i.e. those buildings that need to be seen, and even better, visited. They have become the “face” of the country or city, notable for their architecture, history or features.
Interestingly, in the early 20th century, all cities in Australia banned the construction of buildings taller than 150 feet (45 m), which prevented the development of American-style skyscrapers until the ban was lifted in the late 1950s. Blind walls, aluminum cladding, and prestressed concrete have become standard features of tall buildings in cities. During these years, the “international” style was introduced, American “glass boxes” were copied. A new type of skyscraper has appeared in Sydney and Melbourne. American influence is also manifested in the calculation of external effect, in stylized graceful design, an example of which is resort town Surfers Paradise is a smaller version of Miami.
In 1967, a 50-story cylindrical tower joined Sydney's skyscrapers. Australia Square Tower, built by one of the most prominent representatives of modern Australian architecture - the Austrian Harry Seidler, who settled in Sydney in 1948. It was the tallest building in Sydney until 1976. The architect continued to develop new methods of reinforced concrete architecture in the appearance of Australian cities (Seidler's residential buildings in Sydney).
In the 21st century, many Australian architects have adopted an avant-garde approach to design, resulting in truly unique buildings that reflect Australian culture and values. As a result, the Australian experience begins to spread its influence abroad, rather than the other way around, as has traditionally been the case.
– 1 – Sydney Opera House – (NSW)
– Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales
Opened in 1973 by the Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, today this theater is a true symbol of Australia. Interestingly, at one time this site on Bennelong Point was home to first a fort and then a tram depot, until it was decided to build a theater in 1958.
The creator of this outstanding building modern architecture was the Dane Jorn Utzon, who received the highest award in the world of architecture for his project - the Pritzker Prize.
The Sydney Opera House building covers an area of 2.2 hectares. His maximum height– 185 meters, width – 120 meters. The famous theater roof consists of 2194 sections and weighs more than 27 tons! This entire seemingly airy structure is held in place by steel cables with a total length of 350 km. The top “shells” of the roof are covered with a million tiles of white and matte cream colors, which create different color schemes in different lighting conditions.
The Sydney Opera House remains controversial and is seen as a radical departure from traditional style.
– 2 – Government House (Parliament House) – (ACT)
– Government House, Capital Hill, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
In 1988 the government moved to the new parliament building. Project Parliament House made by New York architectural company Mitchell/Giurgola, and work on site was carried out under the guidance of an architect Romaldo Giurgola. At the time of construction, it was the most expensive building in the Southern Hemisphere, costing more than $1,100 million. The building was opened on May 9, 1988, the anniversary of the opening of the first federal parliament, and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Australian Parliament building in Canberra is one of the largest buildings in the southern hemisphere, it is located on Capital Hill and covers an area of \u200b\u200b32 hectares, and its 80-meter flagpole with the flag of the Australian Federation, the size of a double decker, is visible from everywhere in Canberra.
– 3 – Swan Bells – (WA)
– Swan Bells, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
One of the main attractions of Perth is the tower Bell Tower. This glass tower, better known as, surrounded by copper “sails” was built not so long ago (in December 2000), but it has already become a very popular city landmark. She stands by the river Barrack Square.
There are 18 bells in the tower. Twelve of the eighteen bells were given to Perth by England on Australia's bicentenary celebrations. Previously they belonged to the famous church St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. The first records of these bells date back to the 14th century, but since then they have been rung several times (most recently in 1770).
Now Swan Bells the tallest bell tower in the world. On the fourth level of the tower you can see the bells up close. The hall for bell ringers is located on the first level, and on the second, everyone can watch the performers at work through the glass. In addition, it houses a museum and observation deck. Museum exhibition Swan Bells includes a set of orchestral Tubular bells, carillon bells and much more related to the history of this musical instrument. On the sixth level there is an observation deck with all-round visibility.
– 4 – The Shine Dome – (ACT)
– The Shine Dome, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The Academy of Sciences building in Canberra has quite interesting architecture. It was built in the form of a dome, to be more precise, in the form of a segment of a flat dome. This building was originally known as Becker's house is a well-known Canberra landmark. It was designed by the architect Sir Roy Grounds. The dome has a diameter of 45.74 meters and was the largest in Australia when completed in 1959.
In 1962, the building was named Becker House, in honor of Academy member Jack Ellerton Becker. In 2000, it was renamed in honor of another Academy member, John Shine, who donated $1 million to repair the dome.
– 5 – Queen Victoria Building – (NSW)
– Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, New South Wales
Queen Victoria Building was designed by an architect George McRae. This unique monument architecture was built in 1898 on the site of an old food market in Sydney. The building was conceived as a monument dedicated to the long-reigning monarch. Its construction took place during difficult times for the city, accompanied by a deep recession. The building was specially designed in the majestic neo-Romanesque architectural style so that as many unemployed artisans as possible from among masons, plasterers, and stained glass artists could be involved in its construction. Initially, the premises, which are now occupied by concert halls, cafes, offices and exhibitions, were intended for warehouses and various types of entrepreneurs (traders, tailors, hairdressers, florists, etc.).
Gradually the shops began to change concert halls, and then a large library was located here. The number of offices grew. Especially here, piano tuners, palmists and clairvoyants liked to rent premises for representative offices. The building underwent a radical “reconstruction” in the 1930s, when the Sydney City Council became its main tenant. And in 1959 over Queen Victoria Building the threat of demolition looms. But it was subsequently decided to leave the structure, and today the Queen Victoria Building still dominates the city. It is living proof of the extraordinary skill of the artisans who were involved in its construction.
– Royal Clock
The area of the building occupies an entire city block. Its dominant structure is the huge central dome, consisting of an inner glass part and an outer copper shell. Next to the dome is the original 19th century staircase, and inside the building everything is designed in a magnificent architectural style and decorated with stunning stained glass windows. Today, every detail of the decoration has been restored, including the arches, columns, balustrades and intricate tile patterns on the floor. Fortunately, the integrity of the original structure was preserved during the reconstruction.
On the round stained glass window depicting the coat of arms of Sydney, local residents We tried to post concise information about the city. The image of a beehive here symbolizes the hard work of the townspeople, a sailboat indicates wide trade relations, and dolphins, according to the artist’s plan, are satellites of the sea harbor. The letters IGB, which can be found in the decor, are an abbreviation for the name of the Malaysian company that was involved in the restoration of the building (Ipoh Gardens Berhad).
– 6 – St. Mary’s Cathedral – (NSW)
– St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, New South Wales
Australia's largest church, the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians, is located in the heart of Sydney's business centre. Long a national shrine, in 1930 it received the honorary status of "minor basilica", which means that if the Pope visits the country, he can stay in this cathedral.
The history of the cathedral spans almost two centuries. Australia, as we know, was populated by exiles and convicts, many of whom were Catholics and who were prohibited from practicing their religion until 1820. Only after the declaration of religious freedom in the country did it become possible to build a Catholic church in Sydney.
The first stone for the foundation of the Catholic Church was laid on October 29, 1821. After a short time, the church was completed; it was built in the neo-Gothic style, in the shape of a Latin cross. Since 1842, when the Catholic diocese was formed in Sydney, the church began to serve as a cathedral. In 1865, a fire broke out in the cathedral, almost completely destroying it.
The first stone for the foundation of the new cathedral was laid in 1868. The construction of the gigantic building took a very long time and in stages. In 1882, the premises of the first stage of construction of the building were consecrated. The main nave was not completed until 1928. The richly decorated crypt was completed in 1961. For many years there were no spiers above the two towers of the cathedral's façade, creating a feeling of incompleteness. In 2000, with financial support from the country's government, the spiers above the towers were finally erected.
The dimensions of the structure are impressive: its length is 107 m, the width of the nave is 24.3 m, the height of the nave to the ceiling is 22.5 m, the height of the tower above the middle cross is 46.3 m, the height of the towers of the southern facade is 74.6 m.
– 7 – Australian Film Center (ACMI) – (VIC)
– Australian Center for the Moving Image, Melbourne, Victoria
Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI/Australian Center for the Moving Image) or Australian Center for the Moving Image the main part of Federation Square. Entrance to this center is free and it houses art galleries, museums, cinemas, restaurants, bars, shops and exhibition halls. It is the center of social and cultural life in Melbourne, and one of the city's most popular attractions.
On future project The complex was the subject of a major architectural competition in 1997, which received more than 170 different options for the future center of Melbourne. The winners of the competition were Peter Davidson and Donald Bates. The project caused a lot of controversy due to its uncharacteristically provocative architecture for Australia. Initially, the budget for the construction of the square was supposed to be about 120 million dollars, but after confirmation of the final project, the amount increased almost twofold and amounted to 467 million.
All the buildings in the square have an irregular shape - the designers called them “shards”, and this name stuck and is used to this day. The official opening of Federation Square took place in 2002. The buildings of the complex contain National Gallery(Australian Art), Cinema Museum (ACMI) with cinema, BMW Edge Hall, Horse Racing Museum (pictured below):
In 2005, Federation Square was included in the list of "10 Great Central squares» peace.
– 8 – Sydney Tower – (NSW)
– Sydney Tower, Sydney, New South Wales
Sydney Tower, it is Sydney's tallest building. And the second largest structure in Australia. Height Sydney Tower– 305 meters. This architectural landmark can be seen from all points of the city and from all adjacent satellite towns. Fortunately for tourists, the tower is open to the general public, so you can do the opposite: not look at the tower from all the surroundings, but look at the surroundings from the tower. Tourists flock to the tower, mainly because of the observation deck, which is installed at an altitude of 250 meters above ground level. The viewing angle of the surroundings is 360 degrees. The site is completely closed, but there you can find out information about external conditions - wind speed, direction, amplitude of the tower's swing. Coming down from Sydney Tower, you can get into shopping mall, which is its basis.
The construction of this structure began in 1970 and was completed in 1975. However, it opened to visitors 6 years after the end of construction. The tower is designed to accommodate 960 people at the same time.
– 9 – Q1 Tower – (QLD)
– Q1 Tower, Gold Coast, Queensland
Queensland Number One- this is the name of the tallest residential building in the world in 2006 (the baton was taken over by the Marina Torch skyscraper in Dubai), on the observation deck of this building - "Sky Point" - you can drink a cup of coffee and admire the surrounding views from a bird's eye view. The Q1 building has become a landmark on the Gold Coast. The view of the canals of the Nerang river, the long ocean coastline and high-rise buildings create a feeling of unreality. The feeling of being in the future. The Q1 Tower is 323 meters high and has 78 floors, making it the tallest in Australia.
Space in the building immediately after construction was sold out like hot cakes. One Japanese restaurant managed to buy its place for only 9 million Australian dollars. This is the largest property deal in Queensland history.
Q1 Tower was designed by Atelier SDG, and its shape was inspired by the Sydney 2000 Olympic flame and the Sydney Opera House. The name of the skyscraper is given in honor of members of the Australian Olympic rowing team of the 1920s. The building turned out to be truly enchanting. In 2005, the tower won the silver medal at the Emporis Prize, which is awarded for the best skyscraper of the year.
Q1 is supported by 26 piles that go 40 meters into the ground and 4 meters into the hard rock. The observation deck, which can accommodate 400 people, is located between the 77th and 78th floors.
– 10 – Eureka Tower – (VIC)
– Eureka Tower and Dome of Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, Victoria
Eureka Tower- a skyscraper decorating the Melbourne coastline. The height of the structure is 297 meters (91 floors and 1 underground). Construction of the facility began in August 2002 and was completed on June 1, 2006. The official opening took place on October 11, 2006. The project was designed by Melbourne architectural firm Fender Katsalidis Architects, and construction was carried out by the Australian company Grollo Australia.
The skyscraper is named after the uprising at a gold mine in Victoria, which took place during the Australian Gold Rush. This event is also reflected not only in the name, but also in the design of the structure, which contains the element of a golden crown, symbolizing the “gold rush,” and a red stripe, a symbol of the blood shed during the uprising. The blue glass that covers most of the skyscraper's surface reflects the blue background of the rebel flag, and the white lines reflect the scale on the gold miners' measuring watering can.
– View of Melbourne from Rialto Towers. That tall building like a needle is Eureka Tower.
During the construction of the skyscraper, concrete was used using the moving formwork method. In total, 110,000 tons of concrete were used, as well as 5,000 tons of reinforcing steel, the construction cost was about 500 million Australian dollars. The top ten floors of Eureka Tower feature 24 carat pure gold glazing.
But the skyscraper is notable not only for its striking appearance. This is perhaps the largest skyscraper in the world in terms of population. The basement and 9 above-ground floors are a parking lot. Residential apartments are located, in whole or in part, on 84 floors.
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Sydney Tower Sydney Tower is the tallest building in the city. It can be said without exaggeration that it is visible from any area, and it has become a real symbol of Sydney.
The height of the tower is 305 meters and in terms of this parameter in Australia it is second only to the Q1 skyscraper in Queensland. Sydney Tower has two observation decks at an altitude of 250 and 268 meters, 3 high-speed elevators, a revolving restaurant, and a cinema.
Construction of Sydney Tower began in 1975 and was designed five years earlier by architect Donald Krohn. The tower was commissioned in 1981. In total, AU$ 36 billion was spent on implementing this project. On holidays, the tower sparkles with colorful lights; it is often used to launch fireworks.
The first observation deck allows you to see Sydney in all its splendor. It offers a breathtaking view with a 360-degree view. The endless turquoise expanse of the ocean, numerous yachts and ships moored in the bay, majestic skyscrapers, the Blue Mountains barely visible in the distance - such a panorama evokes genuine admiration, and photographs will help you remember this amazing beautiful landscape. There is also a board with information about wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure. The second area is open. It is located only 18 meters higher. It differs from the first one because it has a glass, completely transparent floor, so not everyone will dare to go there. It is visited as part of an excursion program. You can go upstairs by elevator or perform a heroic act by climbing 1054 steps. Buying a ticket allows you to stay here for an hour, admire the panorama of Sydney, and get an incredible experience. The Sydney Tower restaurant, with a capacity of 220 people, welcomes more than 185 thousand guests a year.
Despite its name, Sydney Tower has no connection to television. It was originally intended for telecommunications, owned by the AMP corporation and called “AMP Tower”. At the end of 2001, the tower came under the ownership of the Westfield Group and became known as Sydney Tower. This attraction will be of interest not only to guests of the country, but also to the Australians themselves.
Sydney Tower and Skywalk
Have you been to this place and blogged about it?
Blogs
Sydney: view from above
Sydney Tower is the tallest building in the city. Panoramic views from the observation deck on the tower are one of the most memorable experiences in Sydney.
etceterini , 23 Aug 2012, 00:35
Sydney
The main attraction is the Sydney Opera House. It was opened in 1973 and recognized as one of the outstanding buildings of modern architecture. Also famous is the Harbor Bridge, one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. It is older than the Opera and was opened in 1932.
maloletko, 8 Mar 2012, 13:35
Sydney Tower
Today there was a climb to the Sydney Tower. It is approximately 400 meters high (while the Harbor Bridge, which I climbed earlier, is “only” 134 meters high. At the entrance I even had to go through a metal detector. At the top there is a closed circular observation deck.
akuloboy , 8 Mar 2011, 06:22
Sydney Tower
Sydney Tower (AMP Tower or Centrepoint Tower) is the second tallest building in Australia, after Q1. Sydney Tower has the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere at 268 meters. The height of the entire television tower is 305 meters.
australia-best , 19 Feb 2010, 11:39
Sydney - IV
We continue our walks around Sydney. One of the mandatory points of the program in any city in the world should be climbing the most high point and his review is from there. You will laugh, I never visited Ostankino in Moscow.
raevskaya-o, 22 Oct 2009, 05:36
My long holiday
Well, here I am with a bunch of vacation photos. Sydney greeted us with not very hospitable weather, the view from the hotel window seemed threatening: but we still risked going outside and even took a ferry ride to Manly.
The history of the settlement of Sydney began at least twenty thousand years ago. The first inhabitants of its lands were Australian aborigines, whose ancestors, according to one version, moved to Australia from Indonesia by boat. Gradually, about 250 peoples formed on the smallest continent of the planet.
But the quiet life of the aborigines of the future Sydney was threatened when, in 1770, along east coast The ship of the expedition of the English navigator and explorer James Cook (1728-1779) sailed to Australia. The travelers made a stop at Botany Bay, eight kilometers from modern Sydney.
In 1787 alone, eleven British ships set sail for the shores of Australia. They were transporting prisoners - more than seven hundred women and men - to the new British colony to work on construction sites. They landed not in Botany Bay, but in Port Jackson Bay, the coast of which was considered more suitable for life. These territories were named. And on January 26, 1788, the British flag was raised over the Sydney lands, and this day is now celebrated as Australia Day.
Construction of Sydney was difficult. Attempts to develop agriculture ended in failure, and supplies of provisions from Great Britain were irregular. Every day it was more and more difficult for the indigenous people of Australia: although the settlers were peaceful towards them, diseases brought by Europeans claimed thousands of lives: by the beginning of the 19th century. only 10% of indigenous Australians remain.
Power in Australia virtually belonged entirely to the officers who kept order in the colony: most of the settlers had a criminal background. In particular, the military enjoyed a monopoly on the rum trade, and sometimes replaced it with cash payments to workers.
On January 26, the anniversary of the founding of New South Wales, an officer riot broke out in the settlement due to the ban on “rum wages.” The uprising ended with the removal of the governor and reshuffles among the leadership of the “rum” corps.
Sydney's growth peaked mid-19th V. - the time of the “gold rush”: in 1851, a gold deposit was discovered 150 km from the city in the Bathurst region. Hundreds of enthusiasts began to come to Sydney in search of untold riches, which accelerated the construction of infrastructure and residential areas. But less than ten years had passed before the center of gold miners moved to Melbourne, but Sydney continued to be built up and by the end of the century was among the contenders for the title of capital of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Sydney became the capital in 1901, but for the state of New South Wales, and not for Australia as a whole.
However, the successful start of the new century was preceded by a whole series of events that undermined the strength of the young state: the First World War of 1914-1918, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the Second World War of 1939-1945. Only in the second half of the 20th century. Sydney's population began to grow and the city began to grow into a metropolis.
Australia's largest city
Although Sydney never became the official capital of the Commonwealth of Australia (in 1908 the decision was made in favor of Canberra), it is called the main city of the country. While Canberra serves as Australia's capital, Sydney is a strong leader in the Australian economy. About 25% of the entire country’s economy is concentrated in this city: about 500 regional offices of international companies are located here. Major Australian firms and offices of international corporations are based here, as well as the Australian Securities Exchange and the Reserve Bank of Australia. As well as the headquarters of 90 banks and more than half largest companies countries.
As soon as Sydney became a financial center, people began to come here in search of work from other areas of Australia and from abroad. Sydney residents now have the highest average per capita income in Australia, US$45,584 (2006). However, Sydney is also known as one of the most expensive Australian cities to live (it is now ranked 66th on the list of the most expensive cities in the world, but back in 2004 the city was in 16th position).
With development, Sydney has changed a lot, not only from an economic and social point of view, but also from an architectural point of view. In the middle of the last century, many ancient low-rise buildings were replaced by modernist high-rise buildings. The symbol of the new life that Sydney was entering after the Second World War was the Australia Square Business Center skyscraper, built in 1967 and for ten years remaining the tallest building in the city (now this status is occupied by the Sydney TV Tower, the second tallest building in the city). buildings throughout the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth).
There are two places in Sydney that are rightfully considered the main attractions of the city. One of them is the famous opera house, located near Sydney harbor. It took fourteen years to erect this building. The Sydney Opera House is a complex structure, designed in an expressionist style and reminiscent of wind-blown sails or a handful of outlandish shells. The massive structure of the opera house is held in place by 580 piles extending 25 meters underwater.
Another source of pride for Sydney residents is the Harbor Bridge, which spans Port Jackson Bay. Its construction was completed in 1932, and it is considered one of the largest arch bridges in the world (its total length is 1149 m, and the length of the arch span reaches 503 m).
Given the level of development that characterizes all modern megacities, Sydney pays a lot of attention to landscaping and is considered a green city. There are public gardens adjacent to residential areas, and from the business center to Port Jackson Bay itself there is a strip of Hyde Park, smoothly turning into Domain Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens. The latter occupy an area of 30 hectares, and they include rare species plants, birds and animals. Among the inhabitants of the botanical gardens are foxes, opossums and parrots.
General information
Australia's largest city.
Founded: 1788
Language: English.
Ethnic composition: Australians - 23.6%; English - 19.7%; Irish - 6.3%; Chinese - 5.7%; Scots - 4.7%; Italians - 3.4%; Lebanese - 2.5%; Greeks - 2.1%; others - 32%.
Religion: Christianity.
Currency: Australian dollar.
Most important airport: international airport
Numbers
Area: 12,144.6 km2.
Population: 4,504,469 people (2009).
Population density: 370.9 people/km 2 .
Climate and weather
Moderate.
Average January temperature:+22.2ºС.
Average temperature in July:+12.1ºС
Average annual precipitation: 1,222 mm.
Economy
Sydney accounts for 25% of Australia's economy.
The local economy is based on trade and banking (there are about 90 banks in the city).
Industry: food, chemical, electrical power.
Service sector: tourism, banking.
Attractions
■ Sydney Opera House (1973) - the calling card of the city;
■ Harbor Bridge (1932) - one of the largest arch bridges in the world;
■ Australia Square (1967) - a business center that for a long time remained the tallest building in the city;
■ Sydney TV Tower is the tallest building in the city, the second tallest in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth;
■ Royal Botanic Gardens - founded in 1816;
■ Hyde Park;
■ District of Rocks - the historical district of the city;
■ Sydney Observatory (1858).
Curious facts
■ Because of its appearance, the famous arched Harbor Bridge has received the funny nickname “Hanger” among Sydneysiders. Its arms are 503 m long, which is only 15 m shorter than the longest steel arch bridge, Fayetteville (518 m).
■ In 2000, the XXVII Summer Olympic Games were held in Sydney. The top three winners then included the USA, Russia and China, while Australia itself took fourth place in the ranking. A distinctive feature of the Sydney Summer Games was the inclusion of sports such as taekwondo and trampoline in the program.
■ Snow in Sydney is extremely rare. The last snowfall occurred in 1836. Nevertheless, hail sometimes occurs in the city. One of the heaviest was recorded in 1999: the diameter of each piece of ice reached 9 cm.
■ On one of the outskirts of Sydney are the Blue Mountains, which are 50 km long. They got their name because of the bluish haze hanging over them, which is formed due to the evaporating essential oils released by eucalyptus trees growing on the slopes of the Blue Mountains.
■ From the outside, the roof of the Sydney Opera House appears to be a monolithic structure, but in fact it is covered with more than a million tiles. Thanks to the correct choice of tile laying technology, the resulting layer has a perfectly smooth surface.
■ Every summer on sea coast an exhibition “Sculpture by the Sea” is organized. In total, about a hundred art projects of not only Australian, but also foreign participants are exhibited.
There are cities you want to return to again and again. Sydney is one of them. I have been there more than once, but every time this city inspires and enchants.
The eternal competition for superiority between Sydney and Melbourne (I wrote about this) takes place with varying degrees of success, but regularly both cities are recognized as one of the most convenient for living. Melbourne, of course, is very good, but in my personal rating Sydney still wins.
Today we will take a walk through the center of Sydney (in Australia, the business center of the city is called CBD - Central Business Distrcit) - from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour. Other delights of the city - the Sydney Bridge, the famous Opera House, a ferry ride across the bay, views from the Sydney Tower - await us in the next episodes.
Today's points of interest on the Sydney city center map (1):
Circular Key
The view of Circular Quay from Port Jackson Bay is one of the “calling cards” of Sydney, along with the Opera House and the Sydney Bridge. Ferries depart from the waterfront piers to different parts of the city, and behind them rise the skyscrapers of the CBD.
The silhouette of the embankment is created (from right to left): Gateway Plaza (black skyscraper on the right, 164 meters, 46 floors), AMP Center tower (188 m, 45 floors). Behind the AMP tower is the Governor Phillip Tower (227 m, 54 floors). To the left of the AMP Center is a building with two flags on the roof - AMP Building (115 m, 26 floors). This skyscraper, built in 1962, was the first high-rise building after the city allowed the construction of buildings taller than 50 meters. Behind the AMP Building is the Intercontinental Hotel (100 m, 30 floors). Finally, the lone high-rise building on the left is Key Apartments (95 meters, 25 floors). (2)
On the embankment. (3)
Circular Quay was once a port area. A reminder of this is the old customs building (Custom House). Nowadays the city library is located here. (4)
Museum contemporary art located by the water. (5)
From Circular Quay you can take a speedboat tour of the bay. (6)
In the CBD, pompous buildings of the Victorian era coexist peacefully with modern skyscrapers, the coolness of Protestant cathedrals and the canopy of parks with the bustle of the streets, and the ever-hurrying white-collar workers with idly wandering tourists.
Let's delve into the labyrinth of CBD streets starting from Circular Quay. However, in relation to Sydney, “labyrinths of streets” is an unjustified cliche. The layout of the center of Sydney, set by Darling Harbor on the west and the parkland on the east, is quite correct - a dozen main streets run strictly from north to south, and the same number intersect them in a perpendicular direction.
Once in the CBD, you find yourself on narrow streets shaded by skyscrapers. However, the vastness of high-rise buildings does not overwhelm - the lower tier of the urban environment with numerous cafes, restaurants, and public institutions is quite friendly.
One of the “vertical” streets of CDB is Phillip Street. On the right is the Sydney Museum, on the left is the Aurora Place Tower, a 41-story Art Nouveau skyscraper 188 meters high. (7)
The Museum of Sydney stands on the site of Australia's first government building, built in 1878. The museum is located at the base of the Governor Phillip Tower, named after the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip. (8)
Let's continue our acquaintance with the CBD skyscrapers lining Phillip Street. This is Chifley Tower (216 meters, 53 floors). (9)
The next building is Deutsche Bank (160 meters, 39 floors). The characteristic spire of this structure (and with it the height of the building is 240 meters) is easily recognizable in any panorama of the city. (10)
The tallest building in the city is Sydney Tower. This 309-meter tower is visible from anywhere in the city. There is an observation deck on the tower, which we will climb to in one of the following episodes. On the lower floors of the tower is the Westfield shopping center. The sandy building in the frame is the David Jones department store. (11)
The CBD does not live by skyscrapers alone - in the center of Sydney there are many pedestrian areas, malls and arcades. Pedestrian shopping area on Pitt Street. (12)
Classic buildings with establishments founded, like this pharmacy, back in the 19th century have been preserved here. (13)
Sydney's oldest shopping arcade is The Strand. (14-16)
Diverse crowd on Pitt Street. (17-19)
Sydney Square and Queen Victoria Building
The central point of the CBD is the square in front of the city hall (Sydney Square) at the intersection of George Street and Druitt Street.
The Sydney City Hall (Townhall) with its tall clock tower looks quite organic against the backdrop of skyscrapers. On the flagpoles are the Australian flag and the Aboriginal banner. (20)
Near the municipality there is cathedral St Andrew is the oldest cathedral in Australia. (21)
Skyscrapers Sydney Square. On the left is Energy Ostrelia (99 meters, 28 floors). Behind it is HSBC Center (151 m, 37 floors). On the right is the Lumiere residential building (151 m, 47 floors). (22)
George Street is the longest and busiest street in the CBD, running north to south from Central Station to Sydney Bridge. An entire block along George Street is occupied by the Quinn Victoria Building (CVB), a building erected in 1898 as a fruit market. Nowadays there are many shops and restaurants located here. (23)
Monument to Queen Victoria in front of the KVB (24)
KVB should be visited even if shopping is not your thing – the architecture and interiors of the building are impressive. (25-26)
One of the decorations of KVB is the Royal Clock (27)
Another impressive hanging clock, the Great Australian Clock depicts scenes of the colonization of the continent: (28)
Aborigines before the arrival of the whites. (29)
Captain Cook's landing in 1770. (30)
Whites take Aboriginal children. (31)
Hyde Park and Domain
Sydney is a very green city. To the east of the CBD there is a vast park area - Hyde Park, Domain Park and the Botanical Garden.
Two blocks from Sydney Square is Hyde Park, with the ANZAC Memorial at the southern end and St Mary's Cathedral at the northern end. The compositional center of Hyde Park is the Archibald Fountain against the backdrop of St. Mary's Cathedral and Sydney Tower. (32-33)
St. Mary's Cathedral is one of the largest Catholic churches in Australia, architecturally it looks more interesting than the cathedral St. Andrew. (34)
The ANZAC Memorial is dedicated to the Australian-New Zealand Allied Corps, which fought in the First world war in Europe and suffered huge losses. There are monuments to ANZAC and the victims of the First World War in almost every city in Australia. (35)
Alleys and lawns of Hyde Park - convenient place to watch people. (36-40)
Hyde Park is adjacent to Domain Park. Football and rugby are played on the huge lawns of the park, runners and joggers scurry along the alleys, and all this is against the backdrop of a panorama of CBD high-rises. From left to right - Sydney Tower, the multifaceted tower of the MLC insurance company (228 m, 60 floors), Westpac Bank with a red beech W on the facade (119 m, 30 floors) and the already familiar Deutsche Bank and Chifley Tower. (41)
Art Gallery of NSW at Domain Park. (42-43)
View of Woolloomooloo, an upscale bohemian residential area east of Domain Hill. We will also visit Woolloomooloo in one of the following episodes. (44)
Darling Harbor
To the west of the CBD, around the bay of the same name, Darling Harbor is a recreation and entertainment area. The Sydney Aquarium, a maritime museum, a convention center, a casino are located here, and various concerts and festivals are held. Sydney residents with their entire families and groups of visiting tourists come here to relax and have fun.
The modern appearance of the area is determined by the development of the mid-80s - 90s, and Darling Harbor gained particular popularity after the ring monorail was opened in 1988, the year of Australia’s 200th anniversary, connecting it with the CBD and neighboring Haymarket.
West Bank Darling Harbor links to CBD footbridge Pyrmont Bridge. There is a monorail over the bridge. (45-46)
At the eastern end of the bridge is the Darling Park monorail station... (47-48)
...and on the western side is Harborside station. (49)
Sydney Aquarium with CBD in the background. (50)
On the other side of the bay is the maritime museum. (51)
One of the museum exhibits. (52)
The lighthouse is also part of the exhibition. (53)
Australian flag over Darling Harbour. Exhibits in the background maritime museum the destroyer Vampire and the submarine Onslow. (54)
CBD panorama - view from the western part of Darling Harbour. The white building in the center is the Four Points Hotel. To the right are the three Darling Park towers, occupied by Commonwealth, PWC and Rabobank banks. (55)
Darling Park Towers and Maritime Museum. (56)
King Street Wharf and several other small high-rises (from left to right) - AON Tower (128 m, 35 floors), Veritas Tower (95 m, 32 floors) and Westpac Towers (166 m, 40 floors). (57)
The bay is busy with cruise and scheduled ferries. (58)
If you wish, you can use a water taxi. (59)
Pyrmont Bridge - view from the maritime museum. (60)
The Sydney Convention Center is located on the shores of Darling Harbor. (61)
The spiraling fountain in front of the convention center adds a little coolness. (62)
The Darling Harbor waterfront is one of the favorite vacation spots for Sydney residents. (63-64)
Highmarket and Chinatown
Adjacent to Darling Harbor to the south is the Highmarket area. There are markets, hotels, Sydney Central Station and Chinatown - Chinatown.
Highmarket monorail station. (65)
The main attraction of the area is the huge indoor market Market City. (66)
Signs with Chinese characters indicate that we are in Chinatown. (67)
A gate is a must for Chinatown in any city in the world. (68)
That's probably enough for today.
Icons of Sydney - Sydney Bridge and Opera House
- Ferry ride on Port Jackson Bay
- The Rocks, Darlinghurst and Woolloomooloo
- Sydney: top view
PS. Which photo format suits you best?
Starting with this post, I decided to switch to photographs of a slightly larger format - 1000x666 pixels. I used to use 900x600 format for blog posts.
Unfortunately, I can’t do a poll about this (I have a regular account, not a paid one), so if photo size is important to you, answer in the comments what resolution you prefer.
1000 x 667
- More than 1000 x 667
- 900 x 600
- Less than 900 x 600
