Royal Villawood

This modest little house at Villawood has an interesting pedigree.

I was reading a book called History Happened Here: strange but true stories from Australian suburbia, and learned that in February, 1958, the Queen Mother visited this house, for all of twenty minutes!

James Cockington wrote in his book:

"The Chard's new two-bedroom house had been chosen at random.

Despite the temperature, Reg Chard, aged 35, eas wearing his woollen, Sunday-best suit when he greeted Her Highness on the front step. With him were his wife Betty and their two sons, Robert and Garry.

The Queen Mum was wearing a summer frock and hat, teamed with a pair of white elbow-length gloves.

Villawood was, and still is, deep in the heart of the working-class western suburbs, but there was still protocol to follw. Robert Chard, then aged 10, was asked to remove the PK he was chewing by a member of the official party.

And, while hundreds of neighbours lined the footpath, three discreet bodyguards stopped onlookers from approaching closer than the Chard's letterbox.

"It was the most amazing thing," remembered Robert Chard on the occasion of the death of the Queen Mother in 2002. "There was this lovely lady with three strings of pearls around her neck and her skin was just like milk."

The tight royal schedule only allowed for a three minute visit, but she ended up staying for 20. She did a whistlestop tour of thehouse,including the bathroom, commenting on the bright colours of the towels. They offered a cupof tea, but by then time had run out."

Has anyone interesting ever visited your house?

Dad

Dad would have been 79 today. He died last year. Dad was a technical genius. Here he is (at right) as chief instructor at Olivetti's training school in Sydney in the 1970s, teaching others how to fix mechanical adding machines or typewriters.

Dad loved machinery, steam engines, printing presses, his vegetable garden, his family, Australian silky terriers, Indiana Jones movies, making silly faces, The Goons, British comedies, AFL footy, brass bands, cricket, Melbourne, and for a while making his own beer. He loathed the beach, The Show, crowds and wasn't keen on cats.

He was a loyal and steadfast friend, a loving husband for 50 years, a fabulous dad for 48 years, and an adoring Gramps for 12 and a half years.

I miss you dad.

Public Buildings, Granville

I was reading the paper and was interested in this article by Elizabeth Farrelly, discussing the fact that the major architectural prize for public buildings was not awarded this year, as none was deemed to be up to scratch. Farrelly discussed the decline of public architecture, and the decline of buildings which assert the importance of the public domain.

Farrelly asks: "Why are we so loath to embellish the public realm in which we spend so much time and by which we are all affected? Traditionally, time, and energy and money - love, if you will - were lavished on built institutions because they meant something. They said something significant about aspiration and civilisation.

"A post office was a declaration of a society's beliefs, its public systems and its intention to endure. Now, a post office is just a tacky and badly stocked stationery shop that happens to carry stamps and passport forms, inhabiting an office building like any other; the cheaper and more anonymous the better."

What better than these side-by-side examples from Granville? The old Town Hall dates from 1888, which the foundation stone reminds us was the Centenary of foundation of the Colony. The more prosaic library next door looks to be a 1950s or 1960s effort.

Lansdowne Bridge across Prospect Creek, Lansvale

Lansdowne Bridge is considered to be one of the finest examples of Colonial Architecture in Australia. It was built by convicts during 1834 to 1836. The sandstone arch has the largest span of any surviving masonry bridge in Australia. It was opened on 26 January 1836.

The bridge’s designer was Scottish immigrant David Lennox. See here: David Lennox.

It’s a pity it’s so hard to see! There is a park “Lansdowne Bridge Reserve” off the main road, where in one or two spots you can walk a little way down the weed-infested creek bank and look towards the bridge. You can walk across the bridge (warning: traffic passes very close, and it's a major thoroughfare)

The best view of the bridge is as you drive across the duplicate bridge heading west…so it flashes past in a second.

Here’s a watercolour painting by artist Conrad Marten from 1836.

Party time, Lavender Bay

Let the party begin!

Little Red House

This is a nicely restored warehouse building on the corner of Mary and Foveaux Sts, Surry Hills. I am intrigued by the little red shed on the roof. I wonder if it is a storage shed, or a caretaker's "cottage". Can you see the clothes line up there too?

I'd love to have the chutzpah to go up and investigate!

Open top bus tours

These buses are popular in many cities, and Sydney is no exception. This one passes between the State Library (behind me) and the Botanic Gardens.

The Britstop is a 1949 London double-decker bus, available for private hire. The website says:

"The upper deck consists of a British rock 'n' roll/London themed 'booth' style seating area with posters, memorabilia, music and lights.
The lower deck consists of a 'space age' themed party room/dance floor with a iPod music system to choose your favorite tunes and bar area with cool boxes filled with ice for BYO cans and casks and a table for BYO buffet food or organised catering if required.
Unfortunately, due to Government regulations, this area can only be utilised when the Bus is stationary so we will be sure to stop at some great locations and use 'the britstop'™ as the venue! "

More red!

Folks, I'm two days through an intense 3 day conference, so I apologise for not visiting everyone's "Theme Day" posts yesterday. I promise to try to get to as many as possible when this is all over.

Here's a "red" pic I nearly chose for yesterday....featuring the City of Sydney's Number 001 fire engine. Actually, what i like best about fire stations are all the firemen's coats and gear hanging ready on the hooks around the walls.

Firies are great!

The Daily Commute

Winter trips to work don't provide much visual excitement, but for a red jacket.

Today is "Red" theme day amongst Daily City Bloggers. Have a look at red around the world!

I'm sorry, I can't for the life of me find the links to all the other ones, so have a look here.