Rain at The Rocks

Sitting in a window seat at the hotel restaurant we watched as all the workers scurried this way and that in the rain, winter coats and jackets on, umbrellas up, and walking along briskly as they were focused on their phones.  No need for us to feel so smug as we sat enjoying the last of our breakfast, with no coats packed, we had to make a quick dash over the road in the rain to  Central Station.  A few stations along the line we alighted at Circular
Quay.

Everyone who has visited Sydney raved about “The Rocks” so we went to check it out. But first, let’s have another look at the view on Circular Quay again, there’s always such a lot going on with all the ferries arriving and departing.

There were several of these birds at the Quay looking for food scraps, which can’t be good for them.  Don’t know what they are, but someone is sure to know.  There are signs up everywhere saying “Don’t feed the birds” but when people leave their rubbish around, it’s easy pickings for them.

A short walk in the drizzle and we arrived at The Rocks, originally a working class area.  And yes, there are plenty of rocks around.  People power saved this area from the bulldozers and redevelopment in the 70s, as the local community was concerned about being moved out of The Rocks, a place they and their families had been living in for generations. They called on the trade union movement and prominent Sydney personalities to help them save The Rocks. 'Green Bans' were imposed on the redevelopment of The Rocks, to be lifted only when residents were to receive assurance from the NSW Government that local people would be rehoused in the area.  In 1975, a compromise was reached and the bans were lifted. All buildings north of the Cahill Expressway were to be retained, conserved and restored.

“First Impressions” by Bud Dumas is a wonderful three sided sandstone relief sculpture symbolising the origins and settlement of the colony, showing a soldier, a convict, and a family of settlers. 

We escaped the drizzle with a visit to The Rocks Discovery Museum, telling of the history of the area.  The continuous loop films were most interesting, and covered the indigenous people, first arrivals, building the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the protests to save the area.  And did you know that Sydney’s streets were successfully paved in hardwood slabs to combat the dust and mud?

It was lucky we visited on a Friday, as all the Food Stalls were up and running, and doing tremendous business.  The place was packed with visitors, all looking for tasty “street food”.  What a fun place to be.