Sydney Olympic Games Memories

                                                                                                                                                            'Arc de Triomphe Individuel' was created by Gary Deirmendjian for the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. This temporary installation lies between Olympic Park station and the Stadium. It celebrates individual commitment, human effort and triumph of the athletes. The repeated outline pattern is based on a normal ECG cycle.

 The Sydney Olympics were held ten years ago between 16 September and 1 October 2000, and were followed by the Sydney Paralympics between October 18th and 29th October 2000

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Games Memories' - a forest of 480 poles in the forecourt of the ANZ Stadium, recalls the excitement of the many thousands of people who came to enjoy the games. The installation  is inspired by indigenous and ancient meeting places.  Around 300 of the poles list the names of the 74,000 Olympic and Paralympic Volunteers who contributed their time and services to the Olympics. Other poles interpret the spectator experience of the games.                                                                                                                      The installation was by Tony Caro Architecture in collaboration with Root Projects Australia, Donny Woolagoodja (a prominent indigenous artist) painted three of the poles, Emery Vincent Design (Graphic Design), Wax Sound and Media (Multi-Media Programs).        

                                                The Olympic Stadium, currently the 'ANZ Stadium', was originally built to temporarily hold 110,000 spectators, making it the largest Olympic stadium ever built as well as the largest stadium in Australia.

It was latter reconfigured with lesser seating capacity to suit the various football codes and other events.

This photo which shows the seating inside the Olympic Stadium during the Paralympics, is one of my own Olympic memories.









 

Transport: Sydney Olympic Park can be reached by Train or Bus

Katoomba - Furber Steps to 'Witches Leap'

Witches Leap, Katoomba

There are numerous bush walks around the Echo Point and Scenic World area. My ‘Echo Point’ post mentioned one, the Prince Henry Cliff walk.

This current post shows a few photos taken on a walk from the Katoomba Falls Kiosk on Cliff Drive, down the Furber Steps  past 'Witches Leap' into the rainforest at the base of the cliff. A sign along the way informed us that a ‘leap’ is a Scottish term for waterfall

The Three Sisters

The familiar silhouette of the Three Sisters is seen (from a distance) from a lookout below Katoomba Falls Park.

Location map for the walk

Katoomba Falls

'Wild Walks' site gives details of many bush walks in the area including 'Witches Leap Circuit' starting at Scenic World.  

Parramatta Park (1)

Parramatta Park

Parramatta Park is one of the largest parks in Western Sydney. It was proclaimed in August 1858 and is one of Australia's most important cultural landscapes.

Old Government House, Parramatta

Old Government House (Australia's oldest surviving public building) and Domain is included in the ‘Australian Convict Sites World Heritage Property’
It has been undergoing major restoration this year, which is the bicentenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

The Bath House, Parramatta

Although it seems an upmarket Restaurant, Lauchlan’s at Old Government house has a cafe menu available for morning tea, light lunch and afternoon tea. 

A grape vine seen on the left of the photo should add to the ambiance when it is in leaf.

 The Bath House was built in 1822 with a Roman style bath for Governor Brisbane.
It was later converted into a bandstand pavilion for public use.


Parramatta can be reached from Sydney by Cityrail train (~30 minutes) or by Rivercat ferry, see my Circular Quay to Parramatta post.



For more about Parramatta Park, please is my second post on the park.

Wattle Day

Australia's Wattle Day centenary (1910-2010) is being celebrated on Wednesday 1 September 2010.
This wattle (Acacia amoena) was photographed on a recent walk in the Blue Mountains near Hazelbrook. Australia's national floral emblem is the Golden Wattle.