Sydney - Hyde Park

Hyde Park (6.5ha), with its lawns, shady benches, flower beds, fountains, statues and the Anzac War Memorial, is Sydney's most central park, just on the edge of the central business district, and consequently draws many visitors, particularly during the lunch break. It lies between Queens Square, Elizabeth Street, Liverpool Street and College Street. Sydney's first underground railway line, the City Railway, was opened in 1926, running under the park between St James Station and Central Station.

Before the white settlement this was an area of marshland, the source of the Tank River which flowed into Sydney Cove. Later it was drained and became a riding track and then Sydney's first cricket ground (1803). It was declared a public open space by the first governor, Arthur Phillip, in 1792, and given its present name by Governor Macquarie in 1810. Among the many features in the park is the Archibald Fountain (1932), a bronze group with Apollo in the center, Diana goddess of hunting and Theseus fighting the Minotaur. The fountain was presented to the city by JF Archibald to commemorate Australia's alliance with France in the first world war.

At the north end of Hyde Park, in Queens Square, are three fine Georgian buildings, masterpieces of the convict architect Francis Greenway: the Hyde Park Barracks, St James's Church and the Supreme Court. In the center of the square is a statue of Queen Victoria, originally set up in 1888 and now returned to its site after some periods of absence.