Two Centuries of Sydney Architecture

Two Centuries of Sydney Architecture

This walk visits many buildings in the city which represent the various demands, changing uses and priorities for buildings in the Sydney CBD. Starting with the earliest housing of The Rocks and exploring the northern end of the CBD, the walk visits many buildings each with a significance and importance from their time, as Sydney gradually became industrialised and then commercialised. The walk finishes with one of Sydney's newest buildings and then looks at the next generation of buildings in planning or under construction and their point of difference.

Together with The Rocks, Macquarie Street is Sydney’s oldest area. While The Rocks developed as the place for the lower classes – the convicts and soldiers, Macquarie Street became the centre of the Governing, legal and medical professions very early in the history of the colony of New South Wales.

Students will learn about the development of the New South Wales colony through stories about important people in Government and in society who contributed greatly to the progress, development and growth of Sydney. They will visit significant heritage buildings in the Macquarie St area as we discuss the reasons they were built, the changing uses of these buildings over time and their present day conservation.

Explore this significant historical part of Sydney as you hear about how as Governor, Lachlan Macquarie transformed this settlement from a penal colony into what would become Australia.

• The reasons and methods for the expansion of the colony
• In-depth study of Lachlan Macquarie, his accomplishments and criticisms
• Francis Greenway and his buildings that have endured the test of time 
• Thomas Mort and his incredible industrial and economic achievements 
• William Wentworth and other notable explorers
  

Walk Details:

• Duration is approx 2 hours
• Distance is approx 2km and includes stairs, but can also easily be adapted for wheelchairs
  
• Meeting point is at First Fleet Park, the grassy area adjacent to Wharf 6 at Circular Quay and beside the Museum of Contemporary Art
• Finish point is at Hyde Park
• There are toilets available at the start and finish points, and also throughout the walk
• This tour operates in all weather conditions, there are many places to shelter along the way if the weather isn't so nice but remember to bring jackets or raincoats
• This walk can also be easily adapted for people in wheelchairs, please let us know if you have any students with special requirements
  

Bookings:

Please book online where possible - this booking calendar operates in a live system so online bookings can receive instant confirmation. 

• If your requirements, times or numbers don't fit with our online bookings, please just get in touch by phone (02) 9188 7885 or email info@sydneywalks.com.au and we can complete your booking over the phone
• If you need to alter the start time earlier or later or have any special requests, please just add a note in the special requests box on the booking page and we will confirm back to you
• You should plan to arrive at the starting point 30 minutes prior to the tour start time, to allow the students time to eat recess or lunch and visit the toilets
• All booking confirmation emails will contain a link to download the emergency plan and risk assessment for that specific tour 
• You will receive a reminder follow-up email one week prior to your tour, and again two days prior to the tour to confirm your final numbers - note we will only charge the amount for the final number of students, not the initial booking quantity.
• We will also send you an email the day before the tour, confirming the forecast weather conditions and giving you the mobile phone number of your guide meeting you for the tour.

Payment:

Deposits or payments are not required in order to make and confirm bookings.

• Public schools using the EdConnect Shared Services system will need to provide a purchase order number prior to the tour. 
• We will confirm your final number of students two days prior to the tour, and quote the final cost back to you so that the purchase order can be raised.
• Private schools and independent schools not on the EdConnect system will be invoiced directly on the day of the tour, for payment within 14 days.

What the students should bring:

• Wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking, there will also be places where we sit down
• Wear a hat and sunscreen if it is sunny, bring a raincoat if the weather looks bad
• Don't bring a heavy school bag, just bring a light bag with your recess, lunch and a drink bottle

Questions, comments or special requests: