Circular Quayis aharbour,former workingportand now international passenger shipping terminal, publicpiazzaand tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located inSydney,New South Wales,Australia, on the northern edge of theSydney central business districtonSydney Cove,betweenBennelong PointandThe Rocks.It is part of thelocal government areaof theCity of Sydney.[1]
| Sydney Cove | |
 Circular Quay from theSydney Harbour Bridge | |
  | |
| Part of | Port Jackson |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Owner | Property NSW |
| Location | Sydney central business district,City of Sydney,New South Wales,Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°51′40″S151°12′40″E/ 33.861°S 151.211°E |
| Construction | |
| Construction start | 1837 |
| Completion | 1844 |
| Other | |
| Known for | Sydney New Year's Eve |
The Circular Quay area is a popular neighbourhood fortourismand consists of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants. It hosts a number of ferry wharves, bus stops, and a railway station.[2]Often referred to as the "gateway to Sydney", the precinct has views of theSydney Harbour Bridgeand theSydney Opera Houseand is a common location for viewingSydney New Year's Evefireworks.
History
editIndigenous history
editThe Aboriginal name for Circular Quay isWarrung,meaning "Little Child".[3]
The first people to occupy the area now known as Sydney wereAboriginal Australians.Radiocarbon datingsuggests that they lived in and around Sydney for at least 30,000 years.[4]In an archaeological dig inParramatta,Western Sydney,it was found that the Aboriginals usedcharcoal,stone tools and possibly ancient campfires.[5]NearPenrith,afar westernsuburb of Sydney, numerous Aboriginal stone tools were found in Cranebrook Terraces gravel sediments having dates of 45,000 to 50,000 years BP.[6]
Prior to the arrival of the British there were 4,000 to 8,000 native people in the Sydney area from as many as 29 different clans.[7]Sydney Cove fromPort JacksontoPetershamwas inhabited by theCadigalclan.[7]The principal language groups wereDarug,Guringai,andDharawal.The earliest Europeans to visit the area noted that the indigenous people were conducting activities such as camping and fishing, using trees for bark and food, collecting shells, and cooking fish.[8]TheEoraare the coastal Aboriginals of the Sydney district. The nameEorasimply means "here" or "from this place", and was used by local Aboriginals to describe to the British where they came from. TheCadigalband are the traditional inhabitants of the Sydney CBD area, and their territory south of Port Jackson stretched from South Head to Petersham.
Colonial settlement
edit
Sydney Cove,on which Circular Quay is located, was the site of the initial landing of theFirst FleetinPort Jacksonon 26 January 1788.
The governor's temporary canvas house was erected on the east side of the cove,[9]while the western shore became the centre of the early settlement. It was the focal point from which the city of Sydney grew. The first wharf on the shore of Sydney Cove probably dated from around 1792. In 1802 it was replaced with a timber-framed wharf called "Hospital Wharf", the first public wharf of the colony (later renamed King's Wharf and Queen's Wharf).
Late 18th-century Scottish constitutional reformerThomas Muirwas sentenced to transportation to Sydney for sedition, and had a cottage on what is now Circular Quay. Thomas Muir escaped from the colony in 1796 aboard an American brig, theOtter.
The eastern side of the cove remained largely uninhabited in the early years of the colony; one notable inhabitant wasBennelong,after whom the adjacentBennelong PointandBennelong Apartmentsare named. In the early 19th century, the entire eastern shore of Circular Quay was part ofthe Governor's Domain,though some commercial activity developed along the shoreline. The western shore, being adjacent to the original settlement now known asThe Rocks,was busier.Cadman's Cottageis a building which survives from that era, built in 1816 for the use of the governmental coxswains and their crews, it marks approximately the location of Circular Quay's natural western shore, prior to reconstruction. The Commissariat Stores (built in 1809) and Australia's first naval dock were also located on the western shore. The naval dockyard was expanded in 1818–1822 underGovernor Macquarie,with four repairing docks.
Working port
edit
Circular Quay was constructed in 1837–1844 by reconstructing the southern section of Sydney Cove with an artificial shoreline. The mouth of theTank Stream,which flowed into Sydney Cove at the western end of Circular Quay, was in-filled. The harbour was originally known as "Semi-Circular Quay", this being the actual shape of the quay. The name was shortened for convenience.[10]Wharves were built on the southern shore. Reflecting Circular Quay's status as the central harbour for Sydney, theCustoms Housewas built on the southern shore in 1844–1845. During the construction of Circular Quay, the eastern side of the cove was used as a quarry and housed construction works. After the governor's residence was moved up the hill to the presentGovernment Housein the 1840s and 1850s,Macquarie Streetwas extended north through the Governor's Domain toFort Macquarie.This led to the development of the area between the street and the shore into a commercial working wharf dominated by the wool trade, while the eastern side of the street remained part of the Domain. This part of Macquarie Street became known as the "wool store" end.[9]Wool and bond stores and warehouses appeared on the site. The historic "Moore Steps" was built in 1868 as a passage between two wool stores, leading from the shore to Macquarie Street. By the 1860s, all three sides of Circular Quay were dominated by wharves and warehouses.
However, by the 1870s, much of the commercial shipping activities was moving away from Circular Quay. The harbour was becoming too small to accommodate the increasing number of large ships accessing Sydney. Instead, shipping activities moved further westwards toDarling Harbour,which also had the advantage of a railway line.
With the absence of commercial shipping, the harbour became increasingly used for passenger transport. The first ferry wharf was built on the southern shore in 1879. From the 1890s, ferry terminals came to dominate the harbour, and Circular Quay became the hub of the Sydney ferry network. TheSydney Harbour Trustwas formed in 1900.
Transport developments
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Circular Quay was also a tram hub. It was the focal terminal point of mostelectric tramservices to theEastern Suburbs.The first tram to operate through Circular Quay was horse-drawn, running from the old Sydney Railway station to Circular Quay alongPitt Streetin 1861[11]allowing easy transfer to ferries. Trams operated fromCentral stationdownCastlereagh Streetto Circular Quay and back up Pitt Street in a large anti-clockwise loop. For many years, 27 regular services operated from Circular Quay.[12][13]
From 1936, the appearance of Circular Quay was dramatically changed with the construction of a railway viaduct, and later the elevatedCahill Expresswayabove the viaduct, across the southern shore of the cove.Circular Quay railway stationwas opened on 20 January 1956[14]and the elevated Cahill Expressway was officially opened on 24 March 1958.[15]
Building developments
edit
The construction of the viaduct led to the demolition of the old Maritime Services Board building on the south-western shore. A replacement was constructed further north in 1940, and is today theMuseum of Contemporary Art.Further north, the Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal was built in 1958–1960 to accommodate the increasing number of passengers arriving by ship. The building was renovated in 1988, 2000 and 2014. Large liners and cruise ships often dock here, their size dominating the cove. East Circular Quay was redeveloped from the 1950s with the replacement of wool stores with modernist commercial buildings. The Sydney height limit was increased from 46 to 279 metres (150 to 915 ft) in 1959, and a number of Sydney's first skyscrapers were built around Circular Quay. TheAMP Buildingon the southern shore was Sydney's tallest building when completed in 1962. In 1973, theSydney Opera Housewas completed at the northeastern end of Sydney Cove.
Between 1971 and 1989, Colonial Mutual Life acquired land along Circular Quay for a large scale development. The initial design caused significant controversy around the country, including intervention by the Prime Minister,Paul Keating,and internationally.[16]A revised 1992 design had the developer reducing building height and providing a colonnade for public access, in exchange for the development extending further towards the foreshore. The resulting development ofBennelong Apartments(nicknamed by critics asThe Toaster), and is criticised for it positioning and for obscuring views of the Sydney Opera House, from the main pedestrian approach.[citation needed]
In 2019, several property developments underway by the private sector in the area, including: Quay Quarter Sydney by AMP Capital, Opera Residences, One Circular Quay by Yuhu Group, Circular Quay Tower by Lendlease, and the Sandstone Hotels precinct by Pontiac Group. In addition, the Sydney Opera House is undergoing its largest renewal project since its opening.
Transport
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Circular Quay is a major Sydney transport hub, with a largeferry,railandbusinterchange. TheCahill Expresswayis a prominent feature of the quay, running from the east, over theelevated railway stationto join theSydney Harbour Bridgein the west. International ships have docked and moored at Circular Quay since the earliest years of the colony. TheOverseas Passenger Terminalis a major piece of Sydney transport infrastructure serving cruise ships and ocean liners and their passengers.
Circular Quay railway stationis the only station on theCity Circlethat is above ground. The platform looks out over the ferry terminus, providing views of Sydney Harbour, including the bridge and Opera House.
Thewharf complexhosts five commuter ferry wharves and is the terminus for all public ferry routes in Sydney Harbour and theParramatta Riverother than theMortlake FerrybetweenMortlakeandPutney. Circular Quay was formerly a largetramterminus and interchange. As many Sydney bus routes follow the previous tram lines, the tram terminus inAlfred Streetbecame a major bus terminus for many bus routes.[17]In March 1995, the road on the eastern side of Circular Quay which served as a bus layover was closed and converted into a pedestrian zone.[18]A redesign of CBD bus services in October 2015 reduced the number of bus routes serving Circular Quay. In 2019, theCBD and South East Light RailtoKingsfordandRandwickopened with a terminus in Alfred Street.[19]
Culture
editCircular Quay is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central Sydney location between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is one of the main congregation points forSydney New Year's Eve.
Circular Quay is also the home of Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art and theCity of Sydney Libraryin the heritage-listedCustoms House.Sydney Writers Walk– a series of plaques commemorating writers with some connection to Sydney – was installed in the footpath along Circular Quay in 1991. In autumn 2006, the largest open-air art exhibition ever in Australia took place on Circular Quay: Over 7 weeks theBerlin Buddy Bearsvisited Sydney.[20]Each bear represented a member-country of theUnited Nations,symbolizing the universal principles of peace, freedom and friendship.[21]
The Quay is mentioned in the classic song "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda"(1971) byEric Bogle."Circular Quay" is the title of a song from Dr. Robert ofThe Blow Monkeyswhich appeared on his 1994 debut solo album,Realms of Gold.The song was also issued as a single in the same year.[citation needed]
Water Polo by the Seais held there every year byAustralian Water Polowith theAustralia men's national water polo teamtake on the International All Stars.[22]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^"Circular Quay".Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW.Geographical Names Board of New South Wales.
- ^"Circular Quay".Sydney.Retrieved5 April2013.
- ^Andrews, Graeme (1982).A Pictorial History of Ferries: Sydney and Surrounding Waterways.Sydney: AH & AW Reed. p. 9.ISBN0589503863.
- ^Macey, Richard (2007)."Settlers' history rewritten: go back 30,000 years".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved5 July2014.
- ^Blainey, Geoffrey(2004).A Very Short History of the World.Penguin Books.ISBN978-0-14-300559-9.
- ^Stockton, Eugene D.; Nanson, Gerald C. (April 2004). "Cranebrook Terrace Revisited".Archaeology in Oceania.39(1): 59–60.doi:10.1002/j.1834-4453.2004.tb00560.x.JSTOR40387277.
- ^ab"Aboriginal people and place".Sydney Barani. 2013.Retrieved5 July2014.
- ^"Cook's landing site".Department of the Environment. 2014.Retrieved5 July2014.
- ^ab"East Circular Quay".Dictionary of Sydney.
- ^"Sydney town and port established 1788–1900"(PDF).Sydney Ports Corporation.21 August 2006. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 21 August 2006.
- ^Wylie, R. F. (February 1965). "The 1861 Pitt Street Tramway and the Contemporary Horse Drawn Railway Proposals".Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin:21–32.
- ^Wylie, R. F. (July 1974). "The Cable Trams of Sydney and the Experiments Leading to Final Electrification of the Tramways".Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin:145–168, 190–192.
- ^Wylie, R. F. (March 1969). "The Inauguration of Sydney's Steam Tramways".Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin:49–59.
- ^Circular Quay Railway Station and ViaductNSW Environment & Heritage Retrieved 4 December 2014
- ^"How to Build a Street Cahill Expressway".City of Sydney.Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2016.
- ^"Tempest Swirls around Sydney's Landmark Opera House".The Christian Science Monitor.17 July 1998. p. 3.
- ^"Sydney's tram history".railpage.org.au.Archived fromthe originalon 13 November 2012.
- ^ServicesFleetlineissue 236 May 1995 page 90
- ^Sydney light rail open to public on 14 December, NSW Government announcesABC News5 December 2019
- ^United Buddy Bears in Sydney 2006
- ^Messages of Greeting by John Howard
- ^Water Polo by the Sea website
External links
edit
- ABC's Sydney Sidetracksexplores the history of Circular Quay
- Paul Ashton (2008)."East Circular Quay".Dictionary of Sydney.Retrieved27 September2015.[CC-By-SA]
- Peter Bolt (2008)."King's Dockyard".Dictionary of Sydney.Retrieved8 October2015.[CC-By-SA]
- "Commissariat Stores".Dictionary of Sydney.Dictionary of Sydney Trust. 2008.Retrieved13 October2015.[CC-By-SA].