Monday, 1 September 2008

Sister Cities : The Bonds of Friendship


Above: Sculpture in Loftus St, Sydney called The Bonds of Friendship. It commemorates the sister city relationship between Sydney and Portsmouth, England (for more about the sculpture and its significance - see the text at then end of this post*). This relationship goes to the very origins of Australia as a nation; the First Fleet bringing the first convicts to what was then known as New South Wales, left Portsmouth on 13th May, 1787, arriving at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. There is an identical sculpture at Sally Port (!!), Portsmouth, England:

Another link between Sydney and Portsmouth is that the first version of the naval cruiser, the Sydney, was commissioned in Portsmouth (not the more famous one sunk during World War 2). The first Sydney served during WW1 and was broken up on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour in 1928.

Sydney has six sister cities (or does it?), and a sister port (which I've blogged before - see here).

The cities are San Francisco, Wellington, Nagoya, Florence, Portsmouth and Guangzhou. The port is Yokkaichi Port Authority, Japan. But, is there controversy? Is Wellington a sister city or not? Sydney City Council claims it is, but Wellington City Council has other ideas, relegating Sydney to the status of "Friendly City", saying "A friendly city relationship is less formal than a sister city relationship and it generally has a lower profile. It is likely to be a long term relationship, but the level of community support and involvement is not as high as with a full sister city relationship." So there, Sydney!

I've posted additional pics relevant to these cities on Sydney Daily Photo Extras.

Ann at Sydney Meanderings and Julie at Sydney Eye are also posting today, so we've divided the spoils. Julie is concentrating on Nagoya, and Ann has gone for Florence and San Francisco. That's why I'm bringing you Portsmouth (and some old pics of mine of Wellington and Guangzhou).

Below: Admiral Nelson's ship The Victory at Portsmouth (taken May 2003). We don't have a replica of that.


To see Sister Cities from all around the world click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Below: Pearl River, Guangzhou, May 1978. The river is now lined with skyscrapers.

Below: View of Wellington, New Zealand October 1984

* Sculpture - The Bonds of Friendship by John Robinson - further details.
The sculpture used to be located outside Customs House, closer to Sydney Cove where the First Fleet arrived. It has been moved about 250 metres inland, after disappearing altogether for a time around 2001.

The plaque in front of it says:

" This memorial commemorates the voyage and arrival in Sydney of the First Fleet which brought to Australia its forst European settlers under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip R.N. The fleet sailed from Portsmouth on 13 May 1787 and anchored in Sydney Cove at a spot just north of this memorial on 26th January 1788.

The fleet comprised eleven ships: H.M.S. Sirius Flagship, H.M.S Supply and armed tender, six transports Alexander, Lady Penrhyn, Charlotte, Scarborough, Friendship and the Prince of Wales, together with three store ships Fishburn, Golden Grove and Borrowdale. At departure they carried a total complement of about 1487 who embarked at Plymouth, Portsmouth and The Thames.

The plinth of the memorial was donated by the Fellowship of First Fleeters, all of whom are direct descendants of those who arrived with the First Fleet. The granite block above the plinth was quarried at Dartmoor, England and donated to the City of Sydney by the City of Portsmouth as a return gift for a similar block of granite from NSW given to them by this city. It was set in place by the Lord Mayor of Sydney on the 2nd July, 1980.

The sculpture Bonds of Friendship was presented by the Bank of N.S.W. It is a companion piece to one erected by the Lord Mayor's Australian Settlers Commemoration Committee of Portsmouth and which is located near the Sally Port at Portsmouth Harbour through which Captain Phillip and many of his fellow voyagers passed on their way to embark.

The Bonds of Friendship symbolises the closeness of the ties that were forged between Portsmouth and Sydney as a result of the voyage of the First Fleet and represents links in a chain joining both cities. It was designed by John Robinson. The donor, the Bank of New South Wales wa sthe first bank and the first corporation established in Australia."

Unveiled 17 September 1980.

31 comments:

  1. I'll get mine up early in a bit - the official sister bit is very controversial isn't it?

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  2. Very nice - thank you for an informative post!

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  3. wonderful post for today, sally.

    the bonds of friendship. we should have these rings in every city in the world.

    have a great week :)

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  4. wow .. you have published a history book .. well done .. rgds jeremy

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  5. Excellent coverage, Sally. I did not know half of that about the First Fleet. I must go down to Loftus Street and have a look for myself.

    The Wellington schemozzle in one in the eye!

    Good post ...

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  6. I like seeing the duplicate sculptures, especially with their clear symbolism.

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  7. Great post, Sally. I knew that sculpture was related to the First Fleet but not its link to Portsmouth. Really good idea.

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  8. I had no idea Our Portsmouth in the UK was a twin of yours. Fascinating post.

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  9. :) One day I hope to get to Australia! Thanks for the info and visuals.

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  10. These are fascinating! I am so HAPPY to have discovered a blog from australia! I look forward to your stuff! I'll be back to visit!!

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  11. The bonds of friendship are rather solid in Australia

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  12. Many interesting things to read today here, I'll come back with a little more time. For the moment, I wish you a good evening, Sally!

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  13. Very informative - I love that first photograph of the sculpture. I too found opposing information on who the so-called sister cities are for Menton.

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  14. Sally Port -- that's great!

    PS. Yes, Rottweilers are from Rottweil.

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  15. Fascinating and beautiful; thank you.

    I'd never read the plaque on the 'Bonds of Friendship' in Sydney; it wasn't until I was in Portsmouth last November that I saw its one, and went, 'Wow!' :how dumb am I?:

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  16. You did a terrific job with this theme, Sally!

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  17. Thanks for the visit, Sally. I like your sculpture a lot. Never saw one like that before. Of course there is a lot I haven't seen. I have been stuck for most of my life here in Ohio. Except that one time I was in Japan and you just saw that. LOL

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  18. The bonds of friendship should apply to everyone.
    A great post...very informative. I didn't know the half of that..

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  19. The bonds of friendship should apply to everyone.
    A great post...very informative. I didn't know the half of that..

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  20. The bonds of friendship should apply to everyone.
    A great post...very informative. I didn't know the half of that..

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  21. Considering the historic links, your sister city relationship with Portsmouth is certainly appropriate.

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  22. un post vraiment complet, bravo

    a truly comprehensive post, bravo

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  23. Very interesting information, Sally. I love the sculpture and like the idea that Portsmouth has the same.

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  24. Fascinating post, Sally. The photo is excellent.

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  25. I agree excellent coverage.
    Thanks for visiting my blog Sitka Daily Photos and for your kind words. I hope you have a great week.

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  26. C'est bien d'avoir beaucoup d'amis dans le monde ! Merci de nous en avoir fait profiter !

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  27. Hmm the one sided sister relationships are interesting. I found the same for London. Some sisters just don't want to know one another it seems.

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  28. Nice sculpture for 'the bond of friendship'. A very interesting story and great photos. I'm surprised to know that Sydney has six sister cities.

    Happy Theme Day.
    Mumbai's Sister City

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  29. Great choice for the theme day. I like the knot sculpture. Really nice.

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  30. Wow, so much great information but the best bit of all was "Sally Port".

    Happy theme day.

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