Customs house was home to the australian customs service for 145 years, and is now a heritagelisted museum space, visitor attraction and performance space located in circular quay. Customs house sydney 2020 all you need to know before you. The marriott hotel at circular quay in sydney is one of the big 5 star hotels of the cbd, shhhh, its about to get a full renovation and be even more spectacular, but, downstairs from the hotel is their customs house bar, a venue for fine alcohol and food. Situated within the leafy bounds of macquarie park, just a stones throw from circular quay and at sydney harbour marriott hotel at circular quay, lies 160 years of history. While street performers entertain outside, those wanting a more cultural experience can head into the.
I must have walked passed the grand looking customs house at circular quay hundreds of times, but this day, i decided to actually go in. When the semi circular quay was constructed from 1837, the eastern side of the bay was used as a quarry. There is an excellent collection of magazines and newspapers from around the world that you can read there, as well they have regular exhibitions and a large 3d model aireal view of sydney city in the main floor. On the top floor, cafe sydney looks out over circular quay and is a great place for a fresh seafood meal, while the laidback outdoor quay bar offers drinks and snacks. They were responsible for all imports and exports, exise on locally manufactured goods, immigration control, control of narcotic substances and morally corrupt goods such as books and films. For stunning harbour views, head for cafe sydney on the rooftop of heritagelisted customs house or hacienda in the pullman quay grand.
Visit customs house on your trip to sydney or australia. This historic building was constructed in 1845 and served as the headquarters of the customs service for over 150 years. The overseas cruise terminal is also situated there. The new customs house will once again link the inner harbour and old town. Circular quay sydney 2020 all you need to know before you. Reflecting circular quay s status as the central harbour for sydney, the customs house was built on the southern shore in 18445. It depicts 10 square kilometres of downtown sydney in miniature form.
Grab a drink in the outdoor square, soak up the sydney sun and watch the bustle of circular quay pass by. Its one of the best places to experience uninterrupted views of the harbour bridge and opera house. They are easily accessible by train, bus and ferry from the circular quay interchange. City of sydney, customs house alfred street, circular quay. It dominated the waterfront as a symbol of british power over sea and trade. From the rocks to the west of circular quay, to the fertile soil of the royal botanic gardens, situated to the east, and once australias first farm, circular quay is surrounded by the rich history and architecture of the first. As a side note sadly after 120 years the last harness race meeting will be held at harold park on friday 17 december 2010.
The historically and architecturally significant building has undergone a complete refurbishment and is home to a collection of unique exhibits. Customs house bar marriott sydney harbour, circular quay. Book your tickets online for customs house, sydney. It was the orginal sydney landing site for the first fleet in 1788, led by governor arthur phillip, after botany bay was found to be unsuitable for settlement.
Customs house and circular quay, sydney nsw 1845 by george edwards peacock to accommodate the growing demands on the customs office due to the expansion of maritime trade to the colony, government architect mortimer lewis designed this greekrevival style building, completed in 1845. Super loco customs house is a lively and contemporary mexican restaurant and bar located along the waterfront and providing a breathtaking backdrop of the marina bay in singapore, all day and night. For stunning harbour views, head for cafe sydney on the rooftop of heritagelisted customs house or hacienda in the pullman quay grand the gateway food court is home to. Thank goodness life has a few little surprises for us. Super loco customs house on collyer quay, singapore the. A gateway for goods, people and ideas entering the colony, customs house was the only supervisor of shipping in a colony dependent on maritime trade. Built in 1885, customs house was one of government architect james barnets finest works. Home to the australian customs service for 145 years, sydneys customs house dominated the waterfront as a symbol of british power over sea and trade. The 57 luxurious homes at customs house will become known as victorias most prestigious address and will offer a rare opportunity for premium waterfront home. Public building on alfred street at circular quay where shipping was cleared and goods passing through the port of sydney were taxed and cleared for sale or export. Today, it is a popular meeting and gathering space.
Circular quay sydney all you need to know before you. Sydneys customs house opened on 17 april 1845 and was home to the australian customs service for 145 years. Circular quay circular quay restaurants, accommodation, and. Enjoy meals at cafe sydney in the historic customs house or go for fine dining at the dining room in the renowned park hyatt sydney. Jul 30, 2016 the old customs house at circular quay 1 19441983 shown in 3 exhibitions. Customs house, sydney is a heritagelisted museum space, visitor attraction, commercial building and performance space located in the circular quay area at 45 alfred street, in the sydney central business district, in the city of sydney local government area of new south wales, australia. Circular quay attractions restaurants, bars, cafes, pubs. They were responsible for all imports and exports, exise on locally manufactured goods, immigration control. City of sydney, customs house alfred street, circular. The site was chosen because of its natural spring water and ability for ships to berth close to the. After convicts mucked through the muddy mangroves and constructed semi circular quay from the rubble of the argyle cut, customs house was built in 1845 as a strong symbol of british power over sea and trade. Sydney cove, the rocks, dawes and millers points are all important sites in sydneys history. At the end of it all, explore some of the attractions close to circular quay.
Theyre not allowed to have a sign at the front indicating that they. Explore sydneys history at customs house, one of the citys most recognizable landmarks. Whether you just want to admire the beautiful architecture, enjoy some fine dining with a stunning view, or check out the temporary exhibits, customs house is a great place to visit. Customs square, at the entrance to customs house, is a piece of australian history. The refurbishment of the historic customs house at circular quay was completed as the major tourism gateway to the city of sydney prior to the olympic games. Customs house venue once home to the australian customs service, this popular heritagelisted attraction offers cultural and dining spaces in the heart of circular quay. The site was chosen because of its natural spring water and ability for ships to berth close to the shore. The customs house library is located in the heart of vibrant circular quay the major hub for sydneys city workers, visitors and international tourists. All sorts of variations from stool balancing guitarists to one man simply dressed as a carrot. Custom house is a dynamic and exciting public space that includes a grand atrium, helix staircase, exhibition spaces, restaurants and bars. Paving in the square depicts the original tidal zone as it was at the time of the first fleet landing. Customs house, circular quay undated dictionary of sydney. Customs house is built on the land of the traditional indigenous owners, the eora people, and is the site of the first fleet landing.
Sydney customs house address, map and directions, hours, history, photos and video everything you need to know about this architectural gem. Circular quay sydney 2020 all you need to know before. The old customs house at circular quay 1 19441983, 1944. Circular quay once served as a shipping region but is today a bustling transport and recreational centre that attracts visitors from all over the city. The site at circular quay was chosen in 1843 to house the customs service for the rapidly growing colony. With so many people coming and going, circular quay offers a wide range of cafes, restaurant and. Cafe sydney is one of the citys most iconic dining destinations. Customs house sydney 2020 all you need to know before. Its bustling full of life and of course the views are stunning. You can enter the basement and see a model depiction of the sydney city under a glass floor which really gives you a nice perspective of the scale of the buildings and harbors of the city. It shows changes in the face of circular quay over the decades which is very interesting but for. A number of customs house buildings have stood on the site since since 1845 and it was designed and redesigned by three government architects mortimer lewis, james barnet and walter liberty vernon.
It is an imposing building on the banks of the creek just a few minutes walk from the main centre of town. Base on that history i think we can say the customs house image is c. Its double pillared colonnade, wroughtiron panels and long clean lin. The six level building houses a variety of different cultural facilities including a city planning model, galleries, a museum, a number of bars and cafes and a restaurant. It was named sydney cove after viscount sydney, the british secretary of state.
Customs house is a beautiful heritage building right across the road from circular quay with free exhibitions. Under the floor of customs house in circular quay lies a mini metropolis. Customs house is now occupied by the city of sydney library. The harbour was originally known as semi circular quay, this being the actual shape of the quay. It is one of the most significant buildings in the history of european settlement in australia. They were responsible for all imports and exports, excise on locally manufactured goods, immigration control, control of narcotic substances and morally corrupt goods such as books and films. Consistently delivering excellent food, an innovative wine list and accomplished service, its no wonder.
When the semicircular quay was constructed from 1837, the eastern side of the bay was used as a quarry. The first house built on the point belonged to bennelong. The quays history goes as far back as 1788 when the first fleet landed at sydney cove where circular quay is now located. Customs house facade on circular quay bursts into a blaze of colours. Today, the building is a popular venue for art exhibitions and private functions, and is home to the citys main library. Customs house events in sydney city of sydney whats on. Circular quay is also the home of sydneys museum of contemporary art and the city of sydney library in the heritagelisted customs house. Vivid sydney festival transforms the city into an explosion of light when it shines after dark.
Perched atop customs house at circular quay, with spectacular sweeping views across sydney harbour the restaurant has built its reputation over the past 20 years. Customs house bar, an open air venue is one of the citys great public houses. At quay bar, the graceful sandstone of customs house sets the stage for after work drinks, a casual weekend lunch or the start of an evening out. Other restaurants worth checking out include quay, aria and bennelong. Circular quay circular quay the hub of sydney and the gateway to sydney suburbs by water. The area that is now east circular quay was quickly seen as the governors side of sydney cove after colonisation in 1788. Exhibition history ten years on, art gallery of new south wales, sydney, jan 1986. The quay was constructed between 1837 and 1844, reflecting its importance as sydneys central harbour discover wellknown attractions, such as the magnificent sydney opera house easily one of the most recognisable icons in the world. Circular quay circular quay restaurants, accommodation. During the construction of circular quay, the eastern side of the cove was used as a quarry and housed construction works. Circular quay is a popular attraction located around sydney cove, and one of the citys most spectacular destinations. Circular quay sydney all you need to know before you go. Admire the building from outside, and then take your time to explore everything inside.
Customs house is an impressive building right at circular port. The site has been occupied by buildings since 1843 hansford and mclaren 1993. Little did i know, as if its some state secret, that this is actually a branch of the city of sydney library. It is a tourist stop for visitors, but also a handy place for locals. Located in the heart of the city centre, the customs house library meeting room and computer training room are just a short walk from the sydney harbour bridge and the opera house. Customs house ref m549091 in faversham, kent mulberry. Until 1990, customs house served as headquarters for the australian customs and border protection service. Before the sydney opera house, office towers and expressway, customs house commanded sydney cove. The major refurbishment has transformed all five floors of one of sydneys finest colonial buildings into a dynamic public facility and meeting space. Customs house is a heritagelisted former customs house, circular quay, sydney, new south wales, australia media in category customs house, sydney the following 60 files are in this category, out of 60 total. The customs house was built in 1850 to collect duties for cargo arriving via the thames estuary into faversham. Sydney customs house tonkin zulaikha greer architects. Reflecting circular quays status as the central harbour for sydney, the customs house was built on the southern shore in 18445.
We stripped back layers to expose the raw space of the historic customs house and added touches of colours for a refined classic finish. Customs house, circular quay undated the dictionary of. The harbour was originally known as semicircular quay, this being the actual shape of the quay. The views over the creek are lovely and there are a number of circular walks to enjoy this area on foot. Circular quay has found itself home to an array of street entertainers. The old customs house at circular quay 1 19441983 shown in 3 exhibitions exhibition history ten years on, art gallery of new south wales, sydney, jan 1986jan 1986. Ferries, buses and the new trams all congregate at circular quay. Customs house things to do in circular quay, sydney. Circular quay is a colorful port where ferries and cruise ships board and depart, and boat watching can be as good a pastime as people watching. Grab a book, or a bite to eat, and take some time out at customs house. Customs house down in circular quay is an important public building that symbolised, when it was built in 1845, sydneys growing status as a trading port, british maritime power and the rule of order.
Whether you are interested in its history, its grand interior, a bite to eat, reading a book at the library or just marvelling at the miniature model of sydney, its well worth a detour for both tourist and local alike. The design is contemporary in appearance but inspired by the heritage of the sites original buildings. Hub customs house sydney coworking space hub australia. John williams photographs 1989, art gallery of new south wales, sydney, 11 aug 198901 oct 1989.
The building served as a customs house prior to federation and then as the head office of new south wales operations of the government of australia agency department of trade and customs until 1988. A number of customs house buildings have stood on the site since since 1845 and it was designed and redesigned by three government architects mortimer lewis, james barnet and walter. Dotted around the quay are enticing places to eat and drink, including acclaimed fine dining restaurants quay, aria sydney and bennelong, which is inside one of the opera houses white sails. So unlike me, dont be intimidated by the grandeur of customs house or its lack of signage. At present the exhibition covers the history of sydney harbour. Trains, too, take you from the airport to circular quay. Circular quay accommodation hotels, apartments, restaurants. Customs house offers just about everything, and in such a central location youd be crazy to skip it.
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