Barangaroo! Isn’t that a great name!
Initially it was the name of the second wife of Benelong. Both Benelong and
Barangaroo were native Australians who played prominent roles in the first
settlement days of Sydney, Australia. Today, the Sydney Opera House stands on
Benelong Point and most recently, the area between Circular Quay and Darling
Harbour has been named after Barangaroo.It is a credit to the city that
planners decided to turn this section of prime real estate into a natural
reserve open to the public.
Lyle, my sister Jill and I walked around
this promenade on one of our last days before returning home to Canada. The
project has not been completed. From Darling Harbour, the footpath skirts an
area of construction before heading on to a beautifully landscaped boulevard.
It was a hot day when we walked and I was wishing that the newly planted trees
were a bit more mature so that they could provide even some marginal shade.
I was especially interested in the next section
of the walk which passed by where the old wharves had once stood. This is where
my dad used to work and as children my brother, sister and I spent many
Saturdays wandering around #7 Walsh Bay Wharf. Unfortunately over the years the
lumber in the wooden pier structures was damaged by termites. Demolition was
the only solution. New buildings on the land side now house condos and eating
establishments.
From here the walkway wanders around the
base of Observatory Hill and the Rocks area. As you round the last curve of
this section, the Harbour Bridge comes into view. Because of the heat of the
day, this was probably my favourite part of the walk. The Bridge is immense and
standing in its shade was a welcome relief from the heat. Did I mention that
the temperature that day reached a balmy 38 degrees Celsius?
So, if you do happen to make a trip Down
Under, I hope you will find the time to do this historic walk around Barangaroo
Reserve.
The picture below shows me on the path
leading under the famous Harbour Bridge. The Opera House is visible across the
water in the background.
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| Sue under the Harbour Bridge |
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