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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.

Must-see attractions nearby:
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.

Related Attractions

Australian Museum
On the east side of Hyde Park is the Australian Museum, which has the largest natural history collection in the country. The exhibits range from valuable minerals and strange fossils to stuffed birds and mammals, many of them extinct. Adjoining these are interesting displays on the life of the Aborigines and the natives of Papua New Guinea.
Address
Australian Museum
6 College Street
Sydney, NSW 2010
Australia
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open9:309:309:309:309:309:309:30
Close17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
Always closed on:
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Cost
Family$ 30.00
Adult$ 12.00
Concession or reduced rate$ 8.00
Child 15 & under$ 6.00
SeniorFREE
All values are in Australia Dollars
Tips
Tours at 10:30am, noon, 2, and 3pm.
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Transit
Near Museum & St James train stations.
St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral is a neo-Gothic building (1868-82) modeled on Lincoln Cathedral, with a façade in the style of Notre-Dame in Paris. The south towers are unfinished. The stained glass windows admit a subdued light to the interior. The site for a church was given to the first Roman Catholic clergy in Sydney by Governor Macquarie in 1821. Two earlier churches were destroyed by fire.
Address
St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Road
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia
Hours
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open6:306:306:306:306:308:006:30
Close18:3018:3018:3018:3018:3018:3018:30
Anzac War Memorial
The Anzac War Memorial, in the southern half of the park, was erected in 1934 to commemorate the dead of the first world war. In geometric Art Deco style, it stands 30 m high on a podium with an area of 1200 sq m.
Hyde Park at night in Sydney.
Hyde Park in Sydney.
Fountain in Hyde Park, Sydney.
Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park, Sydney.
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