Sir Joseph Banks Park is a 28 hectare park in the eastern suburb of Botany. It is made up of Foreshore Reserve and the Sir Joseph Banks Pleasure Gardens. The gardens were the main attraction of the old Sir Joseph Banks Hotel in the 19th Century. This lifesize bronze statue of Sir Joseph Banks in the park, depicts him examining botanical specimens. Joseph Banks was a naturalist on the expedition of the Endeavour led by James Cook that explored the eastern coast of Australia in 1770 and landed at nearby Botany Bay.
The reflection of the Sydney Olympic Park ferry wharf along the Parramatta River is enhanced by the golden afternoon sun. The wharf serves the western suburb of Wentworth Point, which was previously known as Homebush Bay. A regular service is provided by RiverCat ferries on the Parramatta River route of Sydney Ferries.
“The Tank Farm” is the name of this structure in Ballast Point Park, in the inner west suburb of Birchgrove. The tanks depict how Ballast Point was once used by industry as a working harbourfront and grease manufacturing site. The three remaining riveted horizontal tanks date back to the 1920s and were formerly used to store solvents. They are in their original form, making them a visual landmark from land, air and the harbour.
Ballast Point Park at Birchgrove is located on the site of a former oil refinery. Artefacts from the demolished buildings and those discovered during redevelopmen of the site are displayed in the centre of the park in these marble and glass display cases.
This interactive lighting installation was located in First Fleet Park at The Rocks, near Circular Quay, during the Vivid Sydney festival. “Immersion” was created by Australia’s Martin Bevz and Kathryn Clifton. People were able to move around the LED tube lighting, reflecting their movement through the installation via a live video relay of still and dynamic images.
Sydney Council is doing a major upgrade of this park in inner suburb Surry Hills. I have blogged it before. This area was a bit of a wasteland with some degraded grass; now there’s a kids’ playground, and picnic and barbecue facilities.
I’m really looking forward to the re-opening of the pool in late 2011.
In the inner southern suburb of St Peters is a new-ish park. It is built on a former brick pit and waster disposal site. It’s not yet 20 years old, and looking good.
In the southern end, there’s this impressive wetland area.