This stone obelisk, erected in Macquarie Place in 1818, is still used as the measuring point from whch distances from Sydney are calculated.Do you know where distances are measured from in your town or city?
For anyone interested: more about Macquarie Place and the obelisk from the NSW Heritage Office website:
For anyone interested: more about Macquarie Place and the obelisk from the NSW Heritage Office website:
"Macquarie Place was the first and main town square of colonial Sydney. . .
Macquarie Place and the Obelisk are rare surviving evidence of the transition of the Colony from a rough penal settlement to a planned town during the early 1800s under the direction of Governor Macquarie. This transition is demonstrated by the function of the Obelisk in the expansion of the Colony, by the establishment of a formal centre to the Colony, by the first formal layout of public space, and by the quality and design of the park and monument. The Obelisk and Macquarie Place are fine examples of the layout and ornamentation of Sydney town and its public spaces in the Georgian style, and rare surviving remnants of Macquarie's Georgian town plan for Sydney, together with the Hyde Park Barracks, St James Church, and First Government House Stables (now the Conservatorium). The Obelisk was designed by one of the most celebrated architects of the Colonial period, Francis Greenway, and was built by stonemason, Edward Cureton, with convict labour.
These qualities of the Obelisk and Macquarie Place symbolise Macquarie's vision for a permanent planned settlement, which provided the genesis for the development of the nation, and which far exceeded the views of the British Government of the Colony as simply a penal settlement. When the Obelisk was first erected in Macquarie Place, Commissioner Bigge, representing the British Government, found even this simple monument too grand for a penal colony. Governor Macquarie defended the expense and design of the monument with indignation as a "little unadorned Obelisk...rendered at a trifling expense, somewhat ornamental to the Town" which in his view did not "merit any censure". It was this difference of opinion that contributed to the resignation of a disillusioned Governor Macquarie, and meant that many of his plans and Greenway's designs for an elegant Georgian township were not realised. Macquarie Place and the Obelisk are rare surviving evidence of the transition of the Colony from a rough penal settlement to a planned town during the early 1800s under the direction of Governor Macquarie. This transition is demonstrated by the function of the Obelisk in the expansion of the Colony, by the establishment of a formal centre to the Colony, by the first formal layout of public space, and by the quality and design of the park and monument. The Obelisk and Macquarie Place are fine examples of the layout and ornamentation of Sydney town and its public spaces in the Georgian style, and rare surviving remnants of Macquarie's Georgian town plan for Sydney, together with the Hyde Park Barracks, St James Church, and First Government House Stables (now the Conservatorium). The Obelisk was designed by one of the most celebrated architects of the Colonial period, Francis Greenway, and was built by stonemason, Edward Cureton, with convict labour. These qualities of the Obelisk and Macquarie Place symbolise Macquarie's vision for a permanent planned settlement, which provided the genesis for the development of the nation, and which far exceeded the views of the British Government of the Colony as simply a penal settlement. When the Obelisk was first erected in Macquarie Place, Commissioner Bigge, representing the British Government, found even this simple monument too grand for a penal colony. Governor Macquarie defended the expense and design of the monument with indignation as a "little unadorned Obelisk...rendered at a trifling expense, somewhat ornamental to the Town" which in his view did not "merit any censure". It was this difference of opinion that contributed to the resignation of a disillusioned Governor Macquarie, and meant that many of his plans and Greenway's designs for an elegant Georgian township were not realised. "
Hurrah for ref to Francis Greenway, (architect) Unique, historical -by our local standards. I think Napoleonic, rightly or wrongly,around obelisks. Thanks for your special interest this past week - is there more to come (weather wise)
ReplyDeleteAlways great to come across reminders of Sydney's earliest days, and there are some lovely buildings from Macquarie's time. My great-nephew was named Lachlan, and I couldn't help but think of Gov. Macquarie. Bit of a fan of his.
ReplyDeleteFascinating insight into history Sally!!! Macquarie obviously was the visionary of the lot!
ReplyDeleteWe have a signpost to the other cities all over the world too. Maybe not so beauty like this obelisk, but it nice to know how far is to London, Grenland, NY and so on...
ReplyDelete;))
Entertaining as always Sally. Reminds me of my granddaughter, Summer (see photo a week or so back on ADP) who tried to convince me that the word was Obelis (without the k) - she is only 7 years old. No amount of correcting on my part would convince HER that I might have been right. She has yet to learn humility but then she is a little scorpio - same as her mother and I - we are all stubborn! I might have to send her an email suggesting that she look at your photos. She is a very good READER!
ReplyDeleteNow, there's a coincidence - I'm a Stubborn Scorp too~!
ReplyDeleteThe O I like bext tho is Goscinny's Obelix!
Francis Greenway and Lachie Mac: a wonderful duo.
Happy memories, Sally, without even having to stand up. This was one of the 'discoveries' I recall getting quite excited about on one of my rambles from our home in the Eastern Suburbs. They began just before W.W. II, and continued throughout it. Sadly, even if a youngster wanted to now, you couldn't feel comfortable with allowing a 'tiny tot' to wander as far now.
ReplyDeleteEvery now and then I still have a weekend ramble in Sydney, anywhere from the Rocks area to Bare Island; but nowadays I don't seem to bounce back the next day as well as I once did. Must be the Greenhouse Effect?
le kilometre zero, comme celui qui se trouve sur la place de notre dame de Paris. mais le votre est plus beau. c'est un superbe obelisque
ReplyDeletekilometer zero, as that which is on the place of our lady of Paris. but your is more beautiful to it. it is a superb obelisk
Norman: hardly anyone seems to walk much anymore, other than planned rambles. Now that we have some free Sundays (no sport for the young one for afew weeks) I am hoping to get out and do some Sunday walks to all sorts of places. So stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting photograph of something that has stood the test of time. It is like the mouse trap, or paper clip. It is hard to make anything any better than this and for its purpose it is as good today as it was in 1818.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. In Torino they start from Piazza Castello the plain centre of the city but there isn't a MileStone like this.
ReplyDeleteVery intersting. Thanks…
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