11 April 2014: The Domain

A master plan for The Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens has just been released which proposes the development of a hotel, a ferry wharf at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and a railway station on the eastern suburbs railway line.

Some of the proposals within the master planning document have provoked public comment and criticism, in particular from former Prime Minister Paul Keating.

Why are The Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens important public places, and how did they come about?

The inner Domain, c1875-85 (State Library of NSW, SPF / 214)

Governor Arthur Phillip laid the foundation plate for Australia’s first Government House three months after the First Fleet landed in Sydney Cove in 1788. This building to was located on the site of the Museum of Sydney, on the corner of Bridge and Philip Streets in the city.

Philllip set land to the east to provide a garden setting for government house; this later became known as the Governor’s Domain (or ‘Demesne’).

First Government House, Sydney in c1807, watercolour drawing by John Eyre (State Library of NSW,
SV / 31)

The Governor’s Domain was officially proclaimed in 1812 by Governor Macquarie. It covered a much larger area than today, extending from Circular Quay to Woolloomooloo, encompassing today’s Bennelong Point and the Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Lady Macquarie’s Chair and the Domain. Now only part of it remains: the Botanic Gardens and the Domain. Link here to a map showing the extent of the Domain in 1845.

Before Circular Quay was reclaimed and Bridge Street was formed, Government House was on the western perimeter of the Governor’s Domain and had sweeping views of Sydney Cove.

Government House became an important site of early contact between European settlers and Sydney’s Aboriginal population. At least three Aboriginal men – Arabanoo, Bennelong and Colbee – were captured under Phillip’s orders and lived at First Government House. Aboriginal people continued to use the Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens throughout the 19th century.

The Domain began to shrink. In 1832, it was decided to relocate Government House further north-east within the Government Domain to provide more wharfage for the growing city, which required the government gardens in front of the Government House.

The Domain in 1937, photographed by Sam Hood (State Library of NSW, Home and Away – 15845)

The new Government House was completed in 1845, and the First Government House was demolished a year later. Philip Street was extended to Circular Quay at this time, running across the foundations of First Government House. Other incursions included the Garden Palace (burnt down within a few years), the Art Gallery of NSW, the railway network, and roads and freeways including the Cahill Expressway.

The Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens remain as an important passive recreation space in the heart of the city. The plans to redevelop the parklands should be hotly debated, not just by former heads of state but all Sydneysiders.

11 October 2013: Child’s play

What has been the place for children in Sydney’s urban spaces, historically speaking? This week on Scratching Sydney’s Surface, we’re going to take a look at the development of children’s playgrounds in Sydney in the 20th century.

Some of the earliest examples of children’s play areas in Sydney were outdoor gymnasia established in around 1902 within The Doman and Centennial Park by the park trustees. The gymnasia were opened limited hours, had shelter sheds and were supervised by a caretaker. Play equipment included chain swings, see saws, sliding planks, trapeze bars, ladders, parallel bars, Roman rings and a sand-box.

Victoria Park children’s playground c1910 (City of Sydney Archives, SRC17509)

Other early playgrounds were usually established within already existing parks near or adjoining school grounds. There were playgrounds at Victoria Park (near Sydney University) and at Prince Alfred Park near Cleveland Street Public School in the first decades of the 20^th century.

 

So why was it important to have dedicated play spaces for children in inner Sydney in the early 20th century?

By the early years of the 20th century, Sydney was becoming increasingly crowded and congested. Many houses lacked back yards where kids could play, and most parents were working full time, leaving the young ones to their own devices. The increase in motor traffic meant that it was becoming dangerous for children to play on the streets. As well, there were regulations that meant that children couldn’t run amok in the established parks like Hyde Park.

Both individuals and community groups lobbied for the establishment of playgrounds in inner Sydney. One of the key movers and shakers in the early 20th century was the Playgrounds Association of NSW, formed in 1913. It was the driving force behind the creation of 5 playgrounds in inner Sydney in the second decade of the 20th century, i.e. Victoria Park playground next to Sydney University.

Later, individuals (usually women) took up the cause. For example, both May Pitt in Glebe and Lillian Fowler in Newtown campaigned for play areas for children. Both have playgrounds named after them.

At the other end of the social scale, Danish-born ballet dancer Helene Kirsova bought up tracts of land for playgrounds in Glebe and Erskineville, using profits from her ballet company.

Woolloomooloo Playground 1960s (City of Sydney Archives, SRC16488)

By the 1930s, supervised playgrounds were introduced to Sydney as a way to keep children off the streets and to keep them from a life of juvenile delinquency. A supervised playground was different to a normal playground in that staff were employed to guide and monitor the children as they played. The first supervised playground was at Moore Park. There were around 10 established in inner Sydney through to the 1970s.