Hyde Park | NSW Environment, Energy and Science
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Hyde Park

Item details

Name of item: Hyde Park
Other name/s: Sydney Common, Government Domain, The Common, The Exercising Ground, Cricket Ground, Racecourse
Type of item: Landscape
Group/Collection: Parks, Gardens and Trees
Category: Urban Park
Location: Lat: -33.8733068566 Long: 151.2112774720
Primary address: 110-120 Elizabeth, Park, Liverpool, College Streets, Sydney, NSW 2001
Parish: St James
County: Cumberland
Local govt. area: Sydney
Local Aboriginal Land Council: Metropolitan
Property description
Lot/Volume CodeLot/Volume NumberSection NumberPlan/Folio CodePlan/Folio Number
PART LOT1 DP1082647
LOT7303 DP1167657
All addresses
Street AddressSuburb/townLGAParishCountyType
110-120 Elizabeth, Park, Liverpool, College StreetsSydneySydneySt JamesCumberlandPrimary Address

Owner/s

Organisation NameOwner CategoryDate Ownership Updated
City of Sydney CouncilLocal Government 
Land and Property Management Authority (LPMA)State Government 

Statement of significance:

Hyde Park has State significance as public land (the Australian colony's first common) that has influenced the development of Sydney's layout from as early as 1789, occupying approximately the same site since that time. Proclaimed by Governor Macquarie, it is Australia's oldest designated public parkland (1810), and has been continuously used from 1788 for public open space, recreation, remembrance, celebration and leisure. Hyde Park has contributed to the cultural development of the city as a recreational space encapsulating the principles of a Victorian parkland through the use of a hierarchy of pathways and the strategic siting of monuments, statues and built items. It is of State significance as a demonstration of the international spread of the English public parks movement originating in the mid-19th century. It provides evidence of the influence of transport infrastructure on urbanisation by its upheaval and re-creation after construction of the city underground railway in the 1920s. It was site of some of Australia's first sporting events, and remains the prime open space in Sydney for special events, protests and festivals as it has been since 1810. The Park contains a collection of monuments and sculptures which mark key events and personalities in the history of the State including war memorials and significant artistic works.
Date significance updated: 17 Aug 11
Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the OEH copyright and disclaimer.

Description

Designer/Maker: Charles Moore, JHMaiden; Norman Weekes, Sir John Sulman, Alfred Hook, W.G.Layton; I.Berzins
Builder/Maker: Sydney City Council
Construction years: 1810-1927
Physical description: Hyde Park is in the City of Sydney's south-centre, lying broadly on the ridge that runs south-north to Bennelong Point and forming the city's eastern 'edge'. The park is broadly flat, though sloping slightly east and west to the adjacent streets (College & Elizabeth Streets).

The Park is broadly rectangular with a rounded northern end. It is bisected east-west by Park Street and ringed by other major city streets (Liverpool and College Streets, Prince Albert Road, St.James' Road, Elizabeth Street) and stands in strong contrast to the closely-built up and intense environment of the city beside it. Its landscape design offers shady avenues, green sward areas and colourful vistas. Its layout and monuments offer a sense of the city's and nation's history and its design reflects certain aspirations which have found expressions in its vistas, layout and monuments. The park is centred on its great shaded promenade under magnificent mature Hill's figs (Ficus microcarpa var.Hillii). Dense and lacy, these trees have grown tall and now dominate the planting and design, despite some having to be removed due to fungus attack in recent years. A climax at each end of the park is provided by the two major monuments of the Archibald Fountain at the northern and most populous end and by the solid bulk of the Anzac Memorial at the southern end. These two monuments are of essential importance to the park's design and character.

The Park is an accomplished melange of modern City Beautiful, Beaux Artes and Art Deco inspiration (Whitehead, 2001, 180). A series of cross paths, perpendicular and angled to the central promenade, connect streets to its north, west and south with key streets leading to suburbs of Woolloomooloo, East Sydney and Darlinghurst to the east. The two major east-west perpendicular paths in the park's north lead from Market Street to the Archibald Fountain, and from this to St. Mary's Cathedral. Major perpendicular east-west paths in the park's south run east from Bathurst Street past the obelisk and crossing the northern end of the paved plaza north of the Anzac Memorial and reflective pool (to Sydney Grammar School); and another bisecting the Anzac Memorial and connecting directly with Francis Street to the park's east.

Flights of steps lead down from the central promenade to Park Street which bisects the two halves of the park. Other flights of steps lead diagonally off both north and south-eastern corners off Park Street, the entry opposite Francis Street, as both Park and College Streets are at a lower level than much of the adjacent park (or its ridge). Broadly both halves (running north-south) of the park are grassed areas, with scattered trees mostly framing and following cross paths.
Wide paved areas surround both the Archibald Fountain and the Anzac Memorial. A rectangular Pool of Remembrance is set among a wide paved area north of (and on all sides of) the Anzac Memorial, the pool's edges being lined with fastigiate poplar trees (Populus alba 'Fastigiata' which replaced earlier Lombardy poplars (P.nigra 'Italica').

A series of monuments throughout the park form features of different compartments, as follows: (NB: this may not be complete list):

North-west (St.James' Road to Park Street):
St.James Station entry (northern, to St.James' Road)
Sundial (date not known, pre 1914, designer?)
Busby's Bore Fountain (1983, designer?)
The Nagoya Gardens (1964, designer(s)?, upgraded 1999)
A giant chess board set in paving (1972, designer?)
A former toilet block, now a cafe (1999) backing onto an entry/exit (to Market Street) of the St.James underground Railway station (1934)
F.J.Walker Memorial Fountain - (1961, Gerard Havekes)
John Baptist Fountain (c1842, relocated to park 1888, designer unknown - likely a home-made copy after an English design)
Former Tram Shelter (Kiosk)
Oddfellows Memorial (War Memorial)(near cnr.Park/Elizabeth St.s)(1920s)
Underground Gentlemens' Toilets (filled/unused) facing Park Street

North-east (Prince Albert Road to Park Street)
Archibald Fountain (Francois Sicard, 1919, erected here 1932)
William Bede Dalley statue (1919, sculptor?)
Fort Macquarie Cannon (opp. St.Mary's Road)(1810s)
British Lawn (1932)
Sandringham Gardens & Memorial Gates (1951 Ilmar Berzins, SCC)

South-west (Park- Liverpool Streets)
Thornton Obelisk (Sydney Water Sewer ventilator)(1857, ?)
Museum Station entry building, and cafe (cnr.Elizabeth/Liverpool Sts)
Anzac Memorial (Bruce Dellit, 1930-4)
Pool of Remembrance (1934, Dellit?)

South-east (Park-Liverpool Streets)
Captain Cook Statue (1879 on 1869 base, Thomas Woolmer (UK)
Frazer Memorial Fountain (1881, John F.Hennessy, as assistant to City Architect, Charles Sapford)(moved three times since, in the park)
Emden Gun (1914, a 1917 gift from the Commonwealth Government)
Physical condition and/or
Archaeological potential: 		Much of the park was dug up in the 1920s to install the City Underground Railway including Museum Station in the park's south-western quarter (with two exits to cnr.Liverpool/Elizabeth St.s and to near Bathurst Street) and St.James Station north of the Archibald Fountain with two exits, one to Market Street, the other under St.James' Road to its northern side outside the park boundary.
Date condition updated:09 Jun 11
Modifications and dates: 1788-1810 clearing for firewood, grazing;
1810 fencing; racecourse (originally roughly 22ha/56 acres, including Elizabeth and most of College Street, i.e. 30% larger than today)
1830s extension of Park Street
1832 Macquarie Street extended south through the park.
1837 elevated pipe outlet for Busby's Bore water supply
1849 zoo
1851 Macquarie Street extension closed again, 'Lovers' Lane' walk created
1854+ pressure for passive recreation/improvement, planting, walks; Park Street created bisecting park and four 'quarters' formed
1857 Sewer vent /Obelisk erected on Bathurst/Elizabeth Street side
1862: Moreton Bay (Ficus macrophylla) and Port Jackson (F.rubiginosa) figs planted (Smith, 2003) on Charles Moore's advice. Despite 1920s upheavals, and removal of the original central avenue of Moreton Bay figs, some of these still remain elsewhere in the park.
1916-26 major upheaval and recreation of the park after creation of the underground railway loop. St.James & Museum stations/entries
1927 Hills fig avenue created along central axis
1930-34 Anzac Memorial and Pool of Remembrance constructed
1932 Archibald Fountain and surrounds created
1951 demolition of bandstand, creation of Sandringham Gardens
1955 demolition of womens' toilet, creation of Long Day Childcare and Womens' Rest Centre
1964 Nagoya Gardens created
1990-1999 various modifications to pathways, entries, plantings, creation of cafe in former toilet part of St.James Station entry
2000 demolition of Long Day Childcare/Womens' Rest Centre.
2006 removal of 13 Hills figs due to fungus and soil problems
c2007 removal for safe-keeping/conservation of sandstone pedestal of the John Baptist Memorial Fountain (still yet to be reinstated)
c.2009 changes to south-east corner (Liverpool/College St.s)
2010 changes to eastern side to accommodate road/cycle path works

2014-18: Sydney City Council installed Australia's first war memorial to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women, Yininmadyemi - Thou didst let fall', Aboriginal artist Tony Albert's stark tribute (in HP South, near Bathurst and Elizabeth Streets). SCC also spent $3.2m to restore the Anzac Memorial's Pool of Reflection, including installing new tiling and waterproofing, a new underground plant room with better pumps and filters, and improving its surrounds with new (fastigiate American tulip) trees and furniture (SCC news, 8/2018).
Current use: public park/open space, passive recreation, public speaking, marches, protests, events, commemorations
Former use: Aboriginal land, possible meeting place / contest ground, colonial era racetrack, military parades, sports, active recreation, zoo

History

Historical notes: Aboriginal land
Material in rock shelters reveals that Aboriginal people inhabited the Sydney Harbour area from at least 25,000 years ago. Several different languages and dialects were spoken in the Sydney Harbour area before the arrival of the First Fleet. The Cadigal, who formed part of the Darug nation, were the Aboriginal traditional owners of the inner Sydney area (Haglund, 1996).

The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters. With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney (Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani).

The commencement of a British penal colony in 1788, combined with the effects of a smallpox epidemic in 1789-1791, quickly led to the disintegration of traditional Aboriginal social structure in Sydney. Nonetheless some surviving Aboriginal people lived in the township and formed a complexity of relationships with the colonisers, both friendly and hostile (Clendinning, 2003).

At the time of European settlement local Aboriginals hunted ducks in the swampy marshes that were to become Hyde Park (Read, 2008, from SCC (Henson & Fitzgerald, 2006)). A map shows the location of a swamp between what is now Market Street (to its north), Park Street (to its south), just west of Pitt Street, to east of Elizabeth Street, into Hyde Park. This swamp was part of the catchment of the Tank Stream, which broadly runs from just east of Macquarie Street in the east, to Clarence Street in the west, & Bathurst Street and Hyde Park south in the south/south-east (Sydney Water, 2004).

Hyde Park (its southern end) is also believed to be the site of an important Aboriginal contest ground for staging combative trials between Aboriginal warriors, watched avidly by the British in the early days of the colony (Karskens, 2009, pp440-1, 545). Until the mid 1820s, Aboriginal people travelled from all over Sydney and as far away as the Hunter and the Illawarra, to gather at a ceremonial contest ground to the south of the city. The exact location of this site of ritualized conflict settlement and resistance is unclear. Described as lying between the road to Botany Bay and the Brickfields, it was probably near Hyde Park South. Bloody fist fights involving up to 100 people, spearings and beatings were used to resolve conflicts at the Brickfields contest ground. These were observed and recorded by visiting Russian sailors in 1814, and again 10 years later by the French explorers Dumont d'Urville and Rene Lesson (Sydney City Council, 2011).

The valley of the Tank Stream was cradled between two slightly elevated sandstone and shale ridges which ran down to the harbour to form Dawes Point and Bennelong Point on each side of Sydney Cove. The Tank Stream itself was only a tiny rivulet which rose in marshy ground skirting the western slopes of the ground which later became Hyde Park. The seepage from the bed-joints of the underlying sandstone around the upper portion of its catchment, which headed about the centre of the park, filtered through the soil to form a definite channel near King and Pitt Streets. The area now occupied by Hyde Park was relatively flat, rising slightly along the centre and elevated.

We know it was timbered, as was the rest of the topography, from the early drawings of the settlement, and Director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney J.H.Maiden has suggested that the dominant species were probably white or brittle gum (Eucalyptus micrantha), blackbutt (E.pilularis), bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), Port Jackson figs (Ficus rubiginosa), Bangalow palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana), cabbage tree palms (Livistona australis) and smooth-barked white apple (Angophora costata), with an understorey of tea tree (Leptospermum sp.), wattle (Acacia sp.) and NSW christmas bush (Ceratopetalum gummiferum)(Proudfoot (2), 1987: 10).

From 1788 this was a place where soldiers could be quickly assembled in case of a convict rebellion. It was probably the site of a bloody battle between Aboriginals and Europeans for control of land around Sydney (Read, 2008: 5).It was also the site of an important Aboriginal contest ground. (Karskens, 2009:545)

Before Governor Phillip departed from the settlement in December 1792, he had drawn a line from the head of Woolloomooloo Bay to the head of Cockle Bay (now Darling Harbour) and noted in writing on the map that no land within the line was to be leased or granted and should remain the property of the Crown. In subsequent years this directive was whittled away. King granted leases in the town, Foveaux had begun to issue grants, Macquarie was to extend the grants.

The area of Hyde Park however, fell largely within this line and became regarded as a sort of "Common" on the edge of town. It had quite a different status to the Governor's Domain, which became the Botanic Gardens. It was land that belonged to the people, rather than the Governor or his officials. The settlers grazed their animals on it and used its brush and trees as firewood. It was gradually denuded of vegetation. By 1810 it would have been a relatively open, elevated space and by then would have had views out to the north east across Woolloomooloo to the harbour. Early on there were shingling parties and saw pits operating in the vicinity. It was known as "the Common" even before Governor Macquarie defined its size and use by his proclamation of 5 October 1810. His 83rd regiment had established a camp there while waiting for more permanent accommodation, on the southern end near the brickfields (Proudfoot (2), 1987: 10-11).

Later it became the colony's first sports centre and racecourse. Prize fights and cricket matches were held here. In 1803 cricket was introduced on The Common by British officers. This game became an obsession and the area served the game from 1827-1856 (Read, 2008, 5/SCC: 2006).

Before 1810 the area was known as 'The Common', the 'Exercising Ground', 'Cricket Ground' or 'Racecourse' (State Planning Authority (SPA: 7). Macquarie, on 11 February 1810, formally reserved it as open space, the first public park set aside in Australia (Proudfoot: 323). He formally defined the park as bounded in the north by the Government Domain, on the west by the town of Sydney, on the east by the grant to John Palmer at Woolloomooloo and on the south by the brickfields (SPA: 7).

Macquarie named it 'Hyde Park' after the great Royal Hyde Park in London north-west of Westminster, near Buckingham Palace (which had once belonged to the Manor of Hyde and which was seized from the Abbey of Westminster by Henry VIII for a forest hunting reserve in 1536). Macquarie's naming and formal definition of the park was part of his town planning policy. He named the streets and regularised their courses, erected a wharf in Cockle Bay, relocated the Market Place and planned other improvements in the town, as well as defining Sydney's first major park and formalising its use 'for the recreation and amusement of the inhabitants'. He also added another use for the park, 'as a field of exercise for the troops'. His proclamation acknowledged the previous uses of the area (Proudfoot (2), 1987: 14-15; Whitaker, 2009).

Ten days after Macquarie named it Hyde Park it was the venue for Australia's first organised horse race and it was used for races through the 1820s. At that time it was much larger, marking the outskirts of Sydney's southern settlement (Read, 2008, 5-6/SCC, 2006)(Knox, 1986, 58 notes the park was used as Sydney's racecourse from 1820-1821.( Whitaker,2009) adds that as well as being a popular cricket venue in the 1820s it was also popular for informal childrens' games.

It was delineated only as a space at the end of Macquarie Street, where the military held parades, and townspeople cut firewood and carted off soil. It became a favourite place for cricket, a playground for local school boys, a racecourse and - with its slightly elevated position - a promenade (Proudfoot, 323; Knox, 1986: 58) cites Hyde Park as being Sydney's cricket ground from 1827-56.

In 1811 Macquarie framed further regulations to secure the space for public recreation. He closed access across the park to the Brickfields beyond, forbade carts to cross it, or cows, sheep, goats and pigs' to graze upon it, and ordered that no cattle headed for markets near Darling Harbour were to be driven across it. He caused a fence to be made between the park and the brickfields and directed that carts carrying bricks or pottery should go through the turn-pike gate in George Street. He directed that all traffic crossing the park was to use the new line of road along the route of Liverpool Street to South Head Road (or Oxford Street). This roadway then defined the southern boundary of Hyde Park.

The northern boundary was at first defined by the edge of the Governor's Demesne (Domain), which the Macquaries came to regard as their personal pleasure grounds. Macquarie himself directed the building of Hyde Park Barracks (1817-19), St.James' Church (1820) and the Law Courts (1819-28) at the northern end of Hyde Park, using Francis Greenway as his architect, with these buildings as fine embellishments to the colonial town, facing each other across a plaza which terminated Macquarie Street. Macquarie blocked the street named after himself at what was later known as Queens's Square and excluded all roadways from the park.

The western boundary was defined as Camden Street (later Elizabeth Street, renamed by Macquarie for his wife, Elizabeth Campbell), marked out in Meehan's plan of 1807 almost as far as present day Park Street. This was first a street of scattered small wattle and daub thatched houses, brush and grass trees. These were gradually replaced by more substantial houses in the next four decades. It became a fashionable residential street, with elegant terrace houses overlooking the maturing Hyde Park (Mackaness & Butler-Bowden, 2007, 58).

The eastern boundary was not sharply defined when the Macquaries departed in 1821. A map of that year shows a vegetable garden of 11 acres allocated to the Barracks and a site marked out for the Roman Catholic Chapel... 'near the rubbish dump'.

The foundation stone for what would become St.Mary's Cathedral was laid in 1821 on a site adjoining Hyde Park's north-eastern side, the first site granted to the Roman Catholic Church in Australia (Knox, 1996: 59).

Macquarie made no move to have the space planted. He probably had enough difficulty getting the Government Domain in order. However the formal nature of the Queens Square end of Hyde Park made it an appropriate place for Governor Brisbane's Commission to be read to the assembled populace on 1/12/1821 (Proudfoot (2), 1987:17-18).

Francis Greenway, architect to Governor Macquarie, wrote in a letter to "The Australian" in April 1825 that Hyde Park was to be 'given to the inhabitants of Sydney for ever, and to be laid down in the most elegant style of landscape gardening'. It would be planted out 'in the modern way of landscape gardening, as many of the squares are now in London, the garden enclosed with an elegant rail fence'. Lack of cooperation from the Colonial Office in London meant that Greenway's elaborate and optimistic plans for beautifying Sydney were put aside for the time being (Bligh, 32).

Wrestling and boxing in the park continued, with quoits, rugby union, hurling, military drills, a zoo in 1849. In public holidays the park resembled a 'side show alley' (Read, 2008, 6/Clifford & Webb, 1997:17).

From the first attempts at structuring it the site has lent itself to a formal design. Emphasis on a central avenue was given by the 1832 extension of Macquarie Street south through the park and by its flatness. When this street extension was closed for a second time in 1851, its north-south line became a rudimentary public walk (known as 'Lovers' Walk'); a derivation from the planted walks in English 18th century urban pleasure gardens (such as Vauxhall Gardens).

In the 1830s Governor Darling proposed to sell off the park for houses, but his successor Governor Bourke rebuffed the claims of those who desired the park for residential allotments and reaffirmed its status as a park (Proudfoot (2), 1987: 7; Whitaker, 2009). In 1830 Park Street was extended through the park (Mackaness & Butler-Bowden, 2007: 76).

In 1832 William and Macquarie Street (southern extension) were constructed severing Hyde Park and establishing its central axis (Clouston, 2006: 16). Also in 1832 College Street was built which divided off part of the park, in the area which became Cook and Phillip Parks. Also in 1832 Sydney College was built (later Sydney Grammar School). With the nearby Lyons Terrace (1851) and the Australian Museum (1849-51) the southern end of Hyde Park attracted significant and imposing buildings which increased its importance as a planned open space envisaged by Francis Greenway (Whitaker, 2009).

In 1837 the first major planting in the park was undertaken by Superintendent of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, Alan Cunningham (Clouston, 2006: 16). Also in 1837 Sydney's second main water supply (after the first one - the Tank Stream - had become polluted) was Busby's Bore in Lachlan Swamps (later part of Centennial Park). An outlet for water brought to the city from the bore through a tunnel was an elevated pipe in Hyde Park where water carts queued and filled their barrels to sell in the town at 3 pennies per bucket.

In 1846 work commenced on the Australian Museum on the south-east corner of William and Park Streets, probably to the design of architect Mortimer Lewis. This was probably Australia's first prominent museum building (Knox, 1996: 60), and faced the park.

In the 1850s Hyde Park was a barren expanse of grass criss-crossed with paths and dirt tracks around its perimeter. This is clear in a c.1854 photograph taken from the Mint by mint-worker and amateur photographer William Stanley Jevons in the very early days of photography. (Read, 2008: 6).

In 1854 the Public Parks Act was passed and a Hyde Park Improvement Committee was formed (Proudfoot, 323). Trustees were appointed to determine policy and after 1854 the space gradually became tailored towards more bourgeois, middle-class ideal of a passive, decorative open space for strolling. It attracted public speakers for a time, until they, like the cricketers, were banished to the Domain to the park's north. Gradually Hyde Park became more a place for passive recreation and more like an 'English' garden.

There was increasing public pressure to 'improve' the park and plant it.
By this time the influence of Scottish/English writer John Claudius Loudon and architect/gardener (later Sir) Joseph Paxton had reached the antipodes - the garden invaded the pleasure ground to form a 'gardenesque' (Loudon's term) composition with each of Hyde Park's four quarters divided by a central walk and the whole park by Park Street. Incidents or features such as statues, fountains, ponds and a bandstand were introduced. This broadly reflected the rise of the Public Parks Movement in England, and elsewhere in Sydney - with Parramatta Park being declared a public park in the mid 1850s after much lobbying (Read, 2008, 6/Proudfoot, 1990: 7).

In the 1850s civic monuments began to be erected in the park. The first in 1857 was the Thornton Obelisk. It is also irreverently known as 'Thornton's Scent Bottle' (Whitaker, 2009) constructed on the park's western side entrance facing Bathurst Street (intersection with Elizabeth St.). This is actually a sewerage ventilator, made to appear like Cleopatra's Needle, an Egyptian Obelisk now displayed in London (ibid).

In the 1850s with the coming of responsible government, Hyde Park became a venue for Sunday oratory on political and civic topics, and later election meetings. It was also used for processions and official gatherings such as the ball to welcome Queen Victoria's son Prince Alfred in 1868. Its 19th century layout featured straight paths rather than curved ones, with the central avenue of Moreton Bay fig trees continuing the line of Macquarie Street southward. Elsewhere lawns were interspersed with clumps of trees and shrubs, water features and a bandstand (Whitaker, 2009).

In 1861 planting was undertaken, predominantly along pathways. Moreton Bay (Ficus macrophylla) and Port Jackson (F.rubiginosa) figs were planted in Hyde Park in 1862 (Smith, 2003)(1860 say Mackaness & Butler-Bowden, 2007, 72) on the advice of Director of the Botanic Gardens, Charles Moore. Despite removal of an earlier central avenue of Moreton Bay figs, other specimens of both of these species survive from this era (Whitaker, 2009).

A significant and enduring work of Charles Moore and subsequent directors of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, in particular for the overseer of the Domain, lay in developing not only the Gardens and Domain and the grounds of official residences in Sydney and Moss Vale but also Hyde, Victoria, Wentworth and Centennial Parks. This role was later expanded to all public institutions. The bequest of Moore and the directors and curators who followed is the living landscapes and planting styles that continue to be an integral part of New South Wales. Effectively the Botanic Gardens staff and their planting tastes and experimentation with various species shaped the aesthetic values of the broader population (Morris, 2016, 173-4).

In 1866 the parkland was enclosed with a two-railed hardwood fence. A bronze statue of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, was erected in 1866 five years after his death. This was moved to the Botanic Gardens in 1922 and relocated in front of Hyde Park Barracks in 1987 (Whitaker, 2009).

After the 1851 Great Exhibition in Joseph Paxton's 'Crystal Palace' held in London's Hyde Park, and the first Australian Colonial Exhibition in Melbourne in 1854, Sydney also held a more modest exhibition in the Museum to display exhibits destined for Paris (the 1855 International Exhibition) or Melbourne (1861). Victoria also hosted Australia's earliest intercolonial exhibition, in Melbourne (1866-7), again preceding a major international exhibition in Paris (1867). Even if a railway station was not erected on Hyde Park (as had been suggested) or even used at all for an exhibition, the proximity of the railway station and exhibition hall was seen as a necessity for practical and symbolic reasons. Ease of transport was vital for a successful show but so was the powerful symbolism of the 'iron horse', with its prefabricated iron railway tracks symptomatic of an age that had produced the Crystal Palace. Encouraged by the success of the first Sydney exhibition of the Agricultural Society of NSW in 1869, Prince Alfred Park was chosen as the site of the grand 'Metropolitan Intercolonial Exhibition' of 1870 (Aitken & Beaver, 1989: 4).

To Sydney's chagrin, the Melbourne exhibition was a great success and the 'mother colony' looked anxiously to the day when she could respond with a confident rejoinder. The centenary of Cook's 'discovery' of Australia of 1770 was seen as a suitable commemorative event and Hyde Park, Sydney considered an appropriate site. A proposal to erect a new central railway station and use the hall for the exhibition, was considered

A c.1870 painting by Thomas H.Lewis showed Merry Cricket Club Matches in Hyde Park's north - the park was apparently only planted from Park Street south if the painting was accurate (Clouston, 2006: 39).

In 1871 additional planting was undertaken. In 1876 the parkland was redefined and enclosed with a dwarf stone wall and iron palisade fence. In 1878 Hyde Park was formally delineated, its corners demarcated with gates and sandstone piers surmounted by gas lamps.

In 1878 the Central Synagogue was built on Elizabeth Street facing Hyde Park (Knox, 1996: 60). Beyond (i.e. south of) the Synagogue the character of Elizabeth Street became somewhat less exclusive. By 1900, pubs and the odd private club - including Tattersall's bookmakers club - were a feature of the street (Mackaness & Butler-Bowden, 2007: 58). In 1879 (on the centenary of Cook's death) the Captain Cook statue was erected, on a stone base that had been erected in 1869. It stands on the highest point in the park. Its sculptor was Thomas Woolmer who was prominent in the English pre-Raphaelite movement and who spent several years in Australia (Whitaker, 2009). From 1878-96 Sydney Botanic Gardens Director Charles Moore was appointed a trustee of Hyde Park. A Cook's pine tree (Araucaria columnaris) flanks the statue (Stuart Read, pers.comm., 5/3/2012).

In 1881 the Frazer Memorial Fountain, one of two donated to the city by merchant and MLC John Frazer (Whitaker, 2009)(the second fountain is in the middle of Prince Albert Road at the intersection with Art Gallery Road and St.Mary's Road). The fountain was designed by John F. Hennessy as assistant to the City Architect, Charles Sapford) was sited at Hyde Park on the corner of Oxford and College Street. This was one of the first sources of clean water for Sydney and a population meeting point in the park. The original design featured cups dangling from the large water basin for people to take a drink. The taps were bronze and in the shape of a dolphin (Sydney Central Mag, 17/2/2016).

Also in 1888 the Fort Macquarie Cannon (c.1810s) was placed in the park.

In 1888 the John Baptist Memorial Fountain was sited at Hyde Park, in a different location to its current one near the corner of Park & Elizabeth Streets. Early photographs (pre c.1910) show it on an 'x' intersection of two paths, and surrounded by a metal picket fence (Britton, 2008, 83). Baptist was an early and influential nursery proprietor in Sydney whose nursery 'The Garden' in Surry Hills was successful. He was a generous benefactor, donating a fountain to Redfern Park.

This fountain was commissioned for 'The Garden' nursery. It was donated by his family to the City for Hyde Park on the centenary of the European settlement - at this time Australia's premier park had no fountain. While its origin is uncertain - it seems to be a locally-made copy (in sandstone) after an 1842 English design - since 1830s catalogues of English firm Austin and Seeley carried descriptions of fountains made of artificial stone and J.C.Loudon advocated installing jetting fountains. A popular theme was 3 dolphins or carp on rockwork, their tails holding up a shell-shaped basin... (Morris, 2008, 83). It also appears the earliest surviving ornamental (c.f. drinking) fountain in Sydney. Elizabeth Bay House's fountain is believed an earlier import. Government House's and Vaucluse House's - almost identical - were installed in the 1860s. In c.2007 Sydney City Council removed the pedestal (with three triton fish forming a tapering spout) for conservation and safekeeping. The base remains in situ. The current management plan proposes reinstallation and repair (Read, 2008: 7)

In 1897 a bronze statue was erected by public subscription to commemorate the populist political William Bede Dalley (1831-88) near the north-east corner of the park near Prince Albert Road (Whitaker, 2009) in the park's north-east, near Hyde Park Barracks.

Director of the Botanic Gardens, Joseph Henry Maiden compiled a 42 page paper on 'The Parks of Sydney' which he delivered to the Royal Society on 4th June, 1902. Providing a schedule of Sydney's 207 'Public Parks and Recreation Reserves' set aside between January 1855 and April 1902, Maiden dealt with their administration, and how they were (or should be) planted, fenced and provided with paths, roads, seats, lights and other facilities, such as latrines, which were now provided 'for women and children' in the Botanic Gardens, but not yet 'in our parks, so far as I am aware'. Maiden stressed that above all, 'in this democratic country, parks 'should be inviolable'. Their inalienability had to be rigorously guarded. He noted that fortunately 'the battle of Hyde Park has been fought and won. Hyde Park will be immune from the builder and the railway constructor for a century, and if for so long, then it is safe for all time. For each generation is wiser than the preceding one...'. He may, in retrospect, have been over-optimistic on these last two points.

After addressing the Royal Society, Maiden was asked by Sydney Council to report on the state of the reserves within the city. He furnished an interim report in July 1903, before he had inspected Prince Alfred and Moore Parks, but many of his suggestions were of a general nature. The Council should appoint a superintendent of parks: 'trained professional gardeners, not labourers or handy men' should comprise the core of the staff; a nursery and depot were required; etc. With improvements, Elizabeth Street could become 'the noblest street in Sydney'...More latrines were generally needed, and if 'a convenience for females' were provided in Hyde Park, say near Park Street, it would, I feel sure be a boon'. His report went to Council in August 1903 (Gilbert, 2001: 225-6).

Control of Hyde Park was vested by the Department of Lands in then Sydney Municipal Council in 1904. A programme of upgrading began (Whitaker, 2009). By 1905 illumination of the whole of Hyde Park had been completed (Clouston, 2006).

In 1908 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets by 5.5m and 4.6m. In 1910 a bus shelter was constructed. In 1910 Sydney's first womens' public lavatory was built in the park near the corner of Park and Elizabeth Streets. It was considered a 'failure' by Council due to low usage and was replaced in 1955 (Whitaker). In 1912 the park was redefined following the widening of College Street. Mark Foys Emporium (south-west corner of Liverpool & Elizabeth Streets) was built in 1909 opposite the park. This was one of the largest and grandest department stores in the city, growing over time to six stories. When trains (i.e. after 1926) were the most popular method of goring to town the store thrived because of its proximity to the underground railway station (SCC History Program, undated (1)).

In 1914 the sundial was repaired (its date of erection is not known). In 1916 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Park Street. In 1917 the Frazer Memorial Fountain was relocated to the north-east corner of the Pool of Remembrance. The Emden gun, a four-inch gun salvaged from the German raider ship sunk off the Cocos Islands by HMAS Sydney in 1914, the first Australian naval ship to ship victory and one of the nation's earliest war trophies, was gifted from the Commonwealth Government and sited at Hyde Park on the corner of Oxford and College Streets (SCC History Program (2), 2007; Whitaker, 2009).

An underground railway for the city was planned in 1916 but did not proceed until 1922. The idea of building an underground rail network for Sydney was first mooted by engineer and Harbour Bridge designer Dr John Bradfield in 1913. Government approved it and in 1916 work began on the first leg from Central to Museum and St.James. Part of the park was fenced in 1916, however from 1922 onwards major excavation began and much of the western side and part of the centre of Hyde Park North was refashioned after construction commenced. Excavation began with the felling of the main avenue's Moreton Bay fig trees (Whitaker, 2009).

World War 1 brought a halt but in 1922 the project resumed in earnest. Most construction of Liverpool Street (now Museum) station was done by horsepower and hand. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, 21/5/1929 the southern end of the park (Anzac Memorial) was a mountain of excavated soil and the south-west corner had been a railway construction site for more than 12 years! (Read, 2008, 6). This necessitated massive excavations and vast disturbance over five years (1924-9), a huge army of workmen and moving an enormous amount of soil, shale and sandstone. This was one of the major urban projects of the Depression years (Proudfoot (2), 1987: 7). The rail system was officially opened in December 1926. The first electric trains ran between Central, Museum and St.James (Read, 2008: 6).

Following concern about the park's future development during and after railway construction disruption, Sydney City Council in 1927 held a design competition 'for a comprehensive layout and beautification scheme' for a restored and refurbished Hyde Park (along with 'up-to-date lines'). The competition was run probably to allay fears that the park would be closed to the public for years more, as well as to put pressure on the Railway Commissioners.

It was won by architect, planner, landscape designer and engineer Norman Weekes (1888-1972) with a finely delineated design drawn by young architect Raymond McGrath (1903-77) and influenced by the 'City Beautiful' movement (Whitaker, 2009). This design evolved with the active criticism of the assessors, architect and town planner John (later Sir) Sulman, architect Alfred Hook (Associate Professor of Construction, Architecture Faculty, Sydney University) and Town Clerk (and closely involved in the park's management) W.G.Layton, who wrote a masterly report assessing the design, pointing out its shortcomings and enunciating the design philosophy followed. Landscape historian Georgina Whitehead describes Weekes' design as an accomplished melange of modern City Beautiful, Beaux Arts and Art Deco inspiration (Whitehead, 2001, 180).

Their report stated (inter alia) that a 'park laid out on the above lines (a hierarchy of traffic ways, lined with and shaded by trees, expanses of lawn, restrained fountains and monuments) and ...would be dignified, useful, a pleasure to the citizens and an object of admiration to visitors, as they are in the principal cities of Europe. Hyde Park properly treated may thus take its place among those of the leading cities of the world'. (Read, 2008, 6). Weekes' design was simplified.
Importing fertile soil was the first priority (Whitaker, 2009).

Part of the vision was to place major monuments at each end of the main vista aligned with Macquarie Street, which ultimately saw the Anzac Memorial and Archibald Fountain installed (Proudfoot, 323).

In the 1920s the Oddfellows Memorial, an elaborate drinking fountain commemorating members of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows who served and died in World War 1, was built near the northern corner of Park and Elizabeth Streets (Whitaker, 2009).

1927 also saw the opening of David Jones Department store on the corner of Market and Elizabeth Streets, directly opposite the park and St.James Station entry (Mackaness & Butler-Bowden, 2007, 59).

1929 saw the American stock market crash, with reverberations around the world's financial markets, triggering widespread unemployment.

In 1930 an Anzac Memorial competition to commemorate Australian diggers who served in World War 1 was won by architect C. Bruce Dellit. Its construction would take four years (SHR item 1872).

In 1932 Hyde Park's perimeter walls were built to a new design and the British Lawn on the north part of the eastern boundary facing St.Mary's Cathedral, Sandringham Gardens and Memorial Gates (on the corner of College and Park Streets (north).

A climax at the northern end is the Archibald Fountain, a flamboyant 1932 erection in a large pond depicting a bronze Apollo, other gods and mythological creatures such as Poseidon (God of the sea), Diana (the huntress), Theseus and the Minotaur and Jason and the Golden Fleece. This was bequeathed in 1919 to Sydney by J.F.Archibald, to commemorate the association of Australia and France during World War 1 and was designed by (and regarded as the master work of) French sculptor Francois Sicard. Archibald was editor of The Bulletin, a newspaper that encouraged writers in the 1890s onward to write about Australia: he himself was a committed Francophile, supporting a near-French styled beard and changing his name twice: from John Felham to Jules Francois (Archibald). He dreamed of a Sydney developed along Parisian lines, with outdoor cafes and music in the streets. Henry Lawson wanted red flags: Archibald red umbrellas (Read, 2008, 7).

There was a move to include native plants and E.H. Ward, curator of Sydney Botanic Gardens, became the chief adviser - he was responsible for the planting of the great, dense avenue of Hill's figs (Ficus microcarpa var. 'Hillii'). This ran along the central walkway aligned with Macquarie Street, and was established as its major axis. Desirable attributes were listed: the need for shade, restriction of plant species, open grassed areas rather than shrubberies. Specimen trees were considered 'out of place'; flower beds were tolerated in restraint. The desired quality was 'quietude' - the park would be a haven from the bustle and noise of the city. Trams and buses, routed through the park by Weekes, were eliminated.

Civic monuments were thought appropriate and 2 of the most successful of the period were attracted - the Archibald Fountain at the northern end and the Anzac Memorial (1930-34) at the southern end: an inspired Art Deco monument of blocky, buttressed forms. With fine sculptures under English migrant sculptor Rayner Hoff's direction, its symbolism departed from neo-classical forms used in many war memorials and incorporated symbols special to Australia - such as the rising sun and figures of brooding servicemen- which gave the monumental strength to the large granite sculpture (Proudfoot, 323). Its modernity and the emphasis (sculpture and friezes) on women, made it controversial. Photographer Harold Cazneaux depicted its new setting, 'Pool of Reflection' and lines of then Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra 'Italica') in 1934 (Read, 2008, 7).

A 1930 photograph shows mostly only small trees in the park with the Hills fig avenue newly planted. Bandstands were scattered throughout the city and were popular for lunchtime concerts, particularly in the depression when unemployed people abounded. One was located near the cnr. of Park and College Streets (north) - which was demolished to create (in 1951) the Sandringham Gardens and memorial gates to Kings George V and VI (Read, 2008, 6/SCC: 2006).

Much of the construction of the park was assisted (through the 1930s) with labour employed as part of the Depression Relief Fund Programme, which was also responsible for the 1934 construction of the Anzac Memorial's Pool of Remembrance. Also in 1934 the Frazer Memorial Fountain was relocated to its current location, close to the entry steps facing College and Francis Streets, near Sydney Grammar School. In this same year St.James Station and Museum Station were constructed, both with entries/exits in Hyde Park south and north.

In 1934 entry and exits to St. James and Museum Stations in Hyde Park South and North were built, as the southern portion of Hyde Park was only handed back to Sydney City Council in 1932 (GML, 2016, 11).

In the 1960s an outdoor cafe was constructed behind (north-east) of Museum Station entry building, by Sydney City Council. Design of cafe and landscaping were the work of Ilmars Berzins, SCC landscape architect (ibid, 2016, 11).

In the 1950s Hyde Park saw the introduction on Park Street (in the north-western corner of the park's southern half) of the Long Day Childcare and the Womens' Rest Centre conveniences for women and their children visiting the city. This replaced the earlier Womens Public Toilets. In 1954 Queen Elizabeth II dedicated Sandringham Memorial Gardens, designed by Ilmars Berzins, commemorating King George VI (her father, the former King) and the Royal Family's Scottish rural retreat.

In 1983 the Nagoya gardens were constructed in Hyde Park North, commemorating a sister city friendship. Busby's Bore fountain was erected in the same year and slightly to the north-west near the Supreme Court part of the park.

In the late 1980s the City Council saw a need to reassess the park and improve condition of a number of its elements: plantings, walls, paths and monuments. A draft plan of management and master plan were produced in 1989. Through the early 1990s a works programme was implemented to upgrade paths, conserve monuments and stone walls and built new stone walls along College Street in Hyde Park South. The works depot was removed from the eastern side of the main avenue of Hyde Park north in this period (SOHI, 2014, 6).

In 1999 the mens' conveniences at St. James Station were converted into a cafe facing the park's north-western corner (off Market Street/Elizabeth Street intersection). Nagoya Gardens were upgrade.

In 2004-5 an Arboriculture survey of the park was undertaken, after an outbreak of fungal attack meant the need to remove some of the park's central avenue of Hill's figs (Ficus microcarpa 'Hillii'). In 2006 a plan of management and Tree management report were adopted by Council and the Crown.

In 2012 ongoing tree management works were undertaken.

In 2012, the City of Sydney launched 'The Eora Journey' - a visionary project to celebrate the living cultures and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Sydney. Recognition in the public domain through temporary or permanent public artworks is one of four components of the Eora Journey, overseen by art curator and writer, Hetty Perkins. Projects delivered include Reko Rennie's 'Welcome to Redfern' and Fiona Foley's 'Bible and Bullets' in Redfern Park and Tony Albert's 'Yinmadyemi: thou didst let fall' (Council of the City of Sydney, Sydney City News, 10/2020). On 31/3/2015 a War Memorial to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers was unveiled in Hyde Park South, close to Bathurst and Elizabeth Streets. Designed by indigenous artist Tony Albert, it features four 7m tall, 1.5 tonne bullets and three fallen shells, representing diggers who returned and those who did not. The work was inspired by Albert's grandfather's story of survival and experiences escaping a German concentration camp in World War 2 (Hansen, 2015, 7).

In February 2016 Sydney City Council announced works to restore the Frazer Memorial Fountain (1881) with a new base, plinth and steps and its impressive filigree works to be restored. Work took place later in 2016 (Sydney Central News, 17/2/2016).

In 2020 another round of vandalism arising from the international 'Black Lives Matter' movement, including two incidents against the Captain Cook statue led to a public call for this statue to be relocated to a museum by a group of prominent experts in the fields of art, Indigenous Culture and Museums (Open Letter: 'Relocate Cook Statue', to City of Sydney, published in 'The Saturday Paper', 4-10/7/2020, 5).

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)New South Wales themeLocal theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures. Other open space-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures. Gardens-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures. Parks-
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures. Changing the environment-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present. All Nations - associations with Aboriginal war service-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present. Aboriginal Culture-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present. Cadigal tribe - Eora nation-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent Aboriginal cultures and interactions with other cultures-Activities associated with maintaining, developing, experiencing and remembering Aboriginal cultural identities and practices, past and present. All nations - place of first contact between Aboriginal and European peoples-
2. Peopling-Peopling the continent Ethnic influences-Activities associated with common cultural traditions and peoples of shared descent, and with exchanges between such traditions and peoples. Japanese culture-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Gardens and landscapes reminiscent of an 'old country'-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes of passive recreation-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes of cultural and natural interaction-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes of urban amenity-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes of contemplation and devotion-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes demonstrating styles in landscape design-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Landscapes used for self reliant recreation-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Environment - cultural landscape-Activities associated with the interactions between humans, human societies and the shaping of their physical surroundings Significant tree(s) providing urban amenity-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences Providing a venue for significant events-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences Developing local landmarks-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences Holding opening and dedication ceremonies-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Events-Activities and processes that mark the consequences of natural and cultural occurences Commemorating a major event-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Health-Activities associated with preparing and providing medical assistance and/or promoting or maintaining the well being of humans Encouraging public recreation in parks-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Building the railway network-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Railway Station-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Traditional Aboriginal path ways.-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Development in response to railway lines-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Building and maintaining the public railway system-
3. Economy-Developing local, regional and national economies Transport-Activities associated with the moving of people and goods from one place to another, and systems for the provision of such movements Engineering the public railway system-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Sharing urban resources-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Planning relationships between key structures and town plans-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Developing towns in response to topography-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Creating landmark structures and places in urban settings-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Urban landscapes inspiring creative responses-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Beautifying towns and villages-
4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages Indicators of early town planning and the disposition of people within the emerging settlement-
5. Working-Working Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour Working in the public service-
5. Working-Working Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour Working on public infrastructure projects-
5. Working-Working Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour Railway work culture-
5. Working-Working Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour Working in schemes for the unemployed during the Great Depression-
5. Working-Working Labour-Activities associated with work practises and organised and unorganised labour Working with plants-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. State government-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Local government-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Developing roles for government - parks and open spaces-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Developing roles for government - public land administration-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Developing roles for government - providing rail transport-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Developing roles for government - building and administering rail networks-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Developing roles for government - providing reticulated water-
7. Governing-Governing Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities. Developing roles for government - conserving cultural and natural heritage-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Developing cultural institutions and ways of life-National Theme 8
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Capturing iconic landscapes in art-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. work of stonemasons-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Designing, Making and using fountains-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Designing fountains-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Parks and public gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. civic setting-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Designing to evoke nationalistic feelings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Landscaping - 20th century interwar-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Landscaping - public parks movement-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Architectural styles and periods - 20th century Art Deco/Jazz Age-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Adaptation of overseas design for local use-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Creating an icon-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Patronising artistic endeavours-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Artists, bohemians and intellectuals squat or gathering point-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Building in response to natural landscape features.-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Performing important ceremonies and rituals-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Designing landscapes in an exemplary style-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Inspirational environments and events-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Landscape of Remembrance-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Creative endeavour-Activities associated with the production and performance of literary, artistic, architectural and other imaginative, interpretive or inventive works; and/or associated with the production and expression of cultural phenomena; and/or environments that have inspired such creative activities. Creating works of art-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Gathering at landmark places to socialise-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Common-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Visiting places of romantic inspiration-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Enjoying public parks and gardens-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Visiting heritage places-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Activities associated with relaxation and recreation-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation Going to the zoo-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities Participating in homosexual organisations and networks-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Social institutions-Activities and organisational arrangements for the provision of social activities Places of formal community gatherings-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities Racing horses-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities providing sports facilities for city workers and residents-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities providing sports facilities for city workers and residents-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities cricket-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities Boxing-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities Wrestling-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities Rugby Union-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities Hurling-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life Sport-Activities associated with organised recreational and health promotional activities Quoits-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. War Memorial-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. Erecting and visiting monuments and memorials-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. Commemorative avenue of trees ( (Boer, WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq war related)-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. Commemorative tree planting to war dead-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. Commemorative Lone pine ANZAC memorial planting-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Birth and Death-Activities associated with the initial stages of human life and the bearing of children, and with the final stages of human life and disposal of the dead. Remembering the deceased-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Governor (later Adm.) Arthur Phillip, 1788-1792,-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Ilmar Berzins, landscape architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Aaron Muron Bolot, architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with C. (Charles) Bruce Dellit, architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with C. (Charles) Bruce Dellit, architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia 1952+-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Allan Cunningham, colonial and Kings botanist, explorer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Charles Moore, Director Botanic Gardens and garden maker, 1848-96-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Joseph Henry Maiden, Director Botanic Gardens 1896-1924, botanist, museum curator-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Governor (Mjr-Gen., later Gnl., Sir) Ralph Darling and Eliza Darling, 1826-1830-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Francis Greenway, emancipist architect-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Governor Mjr.-Gen. (later Gen., Sir) Richard Bourke KCB, 1831-7-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Sir John Sulman, architect and town planner-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Harold Cazneaux, photographer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Rayner Hoff, sculptor-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with John Busby, mineral surveyor and civil engineer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Norman Weekes, surveyor and engineer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Jules Francois (b. John Felham) Archibald, founding editor of The Bulletin-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with the Hon. John Frazer, wealthy merchant, politician, philanthropist-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with the Hon. William Bede Dalley, MP, solicitor, patriot, scholar-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Raymond McGrath, architect and artist-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with James Jones, French-trained gardener, Sydney Botanic Garden staff-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Governor (later Maj-Gen.) Lachlan Macquarie, 1810-1821-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with William Stanley Jevons, Royal Mint worker and photographer-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Thomas Woolmer, prominent sculptor in English pre-Raphaelite movement-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with the Baptist family, Sydney city nurserymen-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Alfred Hook, Town Clerk, Associate Professor of Construction, Architecture Faculty, Sydney University-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, charity social group-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Francois Sicard, French sculptor-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with E.H. Ward, curator of Sydney Botanic Gardens-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Tony Albert, Indigenous artist-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Gerard Havekes, sculptor and stone mason-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with the Hyde Park Improvement Committee-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with the City of Nagoya, Japan-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with John Baptist, nurseryman-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with John F. Hennessy, architect, town planner-
9. Phases of Life-Marking the phases of life Persons-Activities of, and associations with, identifiable individuals, families and communal groups Associations with Ald. George Thornton, Lord Mayor of Sydney City-

Assessment of significance

SHR Criteria a)
[Historical significance] 		Hyde Park has State historical significance as Australia's oldest public park. It is a surviving part of the nation's first public common on land consciously set aside as public open space in the urban context. It has been continuously used from 1788 for public recreation, remembrance, celebration and leisure.Its historical development provides evidence of the spread of the public parks movement which saw the emergence of deliberately-designed public parks in the mid-late 19th century, while the influence of transport infrastructure on urbanisation is demonstrated in its upheaval and recreation after construction of the city underground railway. The site of some of Australia's first sporting events, Hyde Park remains the prime open space in Sydney for special events, protests and festivals as it has been since its gazettal in 1810. It also provides a record of some of Australia's earliest involvement in war through monuments such as the Emden Gun.
SHR Criteria b)
[Associative significance] 		Hyde Park is associated with the Aboriginal people of the Sydney Region for its believed use as a contest ground. Hyde Park has State significance for it associations with a number of influential men responsible for the creation, design and development of Hyde Park. Governor Phillip, Governor Macquarie and Colonial Architect Francis Greenway all contributed to activities which contributed to the declaration of the Commonl and its eventual gazettal in 1810, as well as the earliest although unrealised design concepts for the park. Several key personalities in Sydney and NSW landscape design and architecture played key roles in both the design and implementation of the park throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Among these were the early Directors of the Sydney Botanic Gardens Alan Cunningham (1837) and Charles Moore who provided planting advice that would shape the early development of the park. In the twentieth century designer Norman Weekes, the 1926 design competition winner and competition assessors Sir John Sulman (architect), Alfred Hook (architect) and Town Clerk W.G. Layton were instrumental in the implementation of the redesign and beautification of Hyde Park following the massive excavations and disturbance of the park associated with the construction of part of what later became the City Circle Railway line from 1922.

The monuments and sculptures in Hyde Park not only create a visually interesting outdoor gallery, but bring with them important associations with artists and designers. Among them are French sculptor Francois Sicard and Bulletin magazine editor Frank Archibald (1932 installation of Archibald Fountain), architect C.Bruce Dellitt and sculptor Raynor Hoff (Anzac Memorial), and landscape architect Ilmar Berzins (Sandringham Gardens).
SHR Criteria c)
[Aesthetic significance] 		Hyde Park has State significance as Australia's premier example of a formal public park in a highly urban situation. It is an early example of a park whose design was based upon a public open space design competition with adjustments made by the judging panel. It contains a number of significant memorials, which make important contributions to the aesthetics of Hyde Park. Of these, the ANZAC Memorial and the Archibald Fountain also have independent heritage values. The memorial and the fountain have significant design influence on the layout and physical character of the Park and the City of Sydney, with the Anzac Memorial positioned on a major axis linked to the Archibald Fountain.
SHR Criteria d)
[Social significance] 		Hyde Park has State social significance as the setting of the Anzac Memorial which has special association with the families of servicemen and women killed in the Anzac Gallipoli campaigns of the First World War. Additional memorials have smaller scale significance of this nature, such as the Emden Gun

Hyde Park has State social significance to the people of Sydney and NSW as a site of ongoing public recreation and major events, parades and celebrations that have continue to be held there since the park's inception. This significance is emphasised by the fact that these events take place in the state's oldest public park which has been in continuous use since European settlement in 1788.
SHR Criteria f)
[Rarity] 		Hyde Park has State significance as one of only two public open spaces, the other being Macquarie Place, dating to 1810 under Governor Macquarie. It is rare as a formally structured Australian urban park, created in an age when informal park layouts were more common. It contains rare design work in a public space by architect and landscape architect Norman Weekes, while the work of landscape architect Ilmar Berzins is one of only four known surviving works by Berzins in NSW. The other three eaxmaples are Arthur MacElhone Reserve, Elizabeth Bay; Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross and Duntryleague Golf Course, Orange. Sculptural and monumental work in the park also have State rarity values. The John Baptist Fountain created c1842 and erected in Hyde Park in 1888 is the oldest surviving ornamental fountain in Sydney. The Archibald Fountain is possibly the only example of the master work of French sculptor Francois Sicard in Australia.

The Emden Gun has state significance as the first naval trophy of World War One from the Royal Australian Navy's first ship to ship battle and one of only four salvaged from the SMS Emden. It is also believed to be the first gun to be utilised for memorial purposes in NSW and the first naval war trophy of World War One. The Emden Gun has national significance as one of only a small number of war trophies captured by Australia prior to 1916 and the battles of the Western Front due to both the outcomes of those early battles and the inability of soldiers to take much with them when they withdrew from those campaigns.
SHR Criteria g)
[Representativeness] 		Hyde Park is an influential public park and open space, much used, loved and copied in other urban spaces in Australian cities and towns.
Integrity/Intactness: As an open space area, Hyde Park has been subject to various attacks by contending uses: residential, active recreation, passive recreation, infrastructure, etc). Various encroachments have appeared from time to time, buildings for particular purposes, outlets for Sydney water supply, road widening around and through it and, most dramatically, the huge upheaval of the City Underground Railway construction with massive excavation through its length and breadth (1916 fencing, 1922+ excavation).

Even though it evolved during a period when informal landscape planning dominated the English-speaking world, and even though some informal elements have been introduced to its design, it has remained Sydney's major formal urban landscape. It is this formal quality which gives it its strength and memorability.

Much of the park reflects its 1926 competition design with some modifications between 1927-c.1930. Recent (1990-2010) changes have been relatively minor - one more noticeable one being removal of 13 Hill's fig trees from the northern end (around the Archibold Fountain) due to fungal attack. Another change of note has been removal of the c1950s day care/womens' rest centre building in the late 1990s and re-grassing of that north-western corner of the southern half of the park. Changes to Gallipoli Gardens plantings around the Anzac Memorial, minor pathway upgrades and recent works to install cycle lane along the park's eastern side on College Street have meant minor incursions and changes there.
Assessment criteria: Items are assessed against the PDF State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Recommended management:

Recommendations

Management CategoryDescriptionDate Updated
Recommended ManagementReview a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) 
Recommended ManagementPrepare a maintenance schedule or guidelines 
Recommended ManagementCarry out interpretation, promotion and/or education 

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of actDescriptionTitleCommentsAction date
57(2)Exemption to allow workHeritage Act - Site Specific Exemptions 1. All Standard Exemptions
The following site specific exemptions (Nos 2-10) apply only to the City of Sydney Council as land manager.

2. General maintenance and repair.
(i) Suppression of fire.
(ii) Tree surgery where considered necessary for the health of a tree
(iii) Pruning of trees considered a danger to the public or staff
(iv) Removal of trees considered a danger to the public or staff provided a concurrent proposal for a replacement species is submitted and provided the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the proposal is consistent with the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan
(v) Temporary barricading around trees considered a danger to the public or staff
(vi) Repair of damage caused by compaction or erosion and implementation of erosion or compaction control measures
(vii) Minor maintenance and minor repair of any building, structure, furniture, fixture, monument, retaining wall, pool, fountain or work within the park where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the works will not materially effect the heritage significance of the area in which they are to be undertaken.
(viii) Maintenance and repair of existing roads, paths, retaining walls, fences and gates, and planter bed edging or kerbing.
(ix) Routine horticultural maintenance, including lawn mowing, cultivation and pruning.

3. Maintenance of services and utilities.
(i) Maintenance and repair of services and public utilities including communications, gas, electricity, water supply, waste disposal, sewerage, irrigation and drainage
(ii) Upgrade of services and public utilities where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the activity will not materially affect the heritage significance of the Park as a whole or the area in which they are to be undertaken
(iii) Extension of irrigation system as necessary to areas currently without this infrastructure.

4. Implementation of the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan
(i) Removal of existing trees and planting of new trees where necessary to implement the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan.
(ii) Removal, construction or alteration of garden beds, hard landscaping and plantings to implement the Hyde Park Plan of Management and masterplan.
5. Alteration of roads, pathways, retaining walls and fences.
(i) Minor alteration to roadways, pathways, retaining walls and fences where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the proposal is consistent with the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan and will not materially effect the heritage significance of the Park as a whole or the building or area in which they are to be undertaken.
6. Management of lawns, garden beds, hard landscaping and living collections.
(i) Removal and replacement of existing plantings, and removal, construction or alteration of garden beds, hard landscaping and plantings to implement the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the activity will not materially effect the heritage significance of the Park as a whole or the area in which they are to be undertaken.
(ii) Routine horticultural curation, including development and management of displays of annuals and perennials.

7. Management of interpretive, information and directional signage.
(i) Installation, removal and alteration of information and directional signage and labels where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the proposal is consistent with the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan.
(ii) Maintenance and repair of existing interpretive signage.
8. Management of artworks, statues and monuments, pools and fountains.
(i) Minor maintenance and minor repair of any artwork, monument, pool, fountain or work within the park where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the works will not materially effect the heritage significance of the area in which they are to be undertaken.

9. Management of temporary events.
(i) Temporary installation of artworks, statues and monuments for temporary exhibitions or events where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the proposal is consistent with the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan.
(ii)Temporary use of a section of the Park, temporary road closures and the installation of temporary fencing, facilities, exhibitions, artworks, crowd control barriers, lighting, sound and public address equipment and signage for a period not exceeding 1 month where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the proposal is consistent with the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan and where the Trust is satisfied that the activity will not materially affect the heritage significance of the Park as a whole or the area affected.

10. Furniture and fixtures.
(i) Installation, relocation, removal and maintenance of park furniture and fixtures where the Hyde Park Reserve Trust is satisfied that the proposal is consistent with the Hyde Park Plan of Management and Masterplan and will not materially affect the heritage significance of the Park as a whole or the building or area in which they are to be undertaken. 		Dec 13 2011
57(2)Exemption to allow workStandard Exemptions ORDER UNDER SECTION 57(2) OF THE HERITAGE ACT 1977

Standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977.

I, Donald Harwin, the Special Minister of State pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales do by this Order, effective 1 December 2020:

1. revoke the order made on 11 July 2008 and published on pages 91177 to 9182 of Government Gazette Number 110 of 5 September 2008 and varied by notice published in the Government Gazette on 5 March 2015; and

2. grant the exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 that are described in the attached Schedule.

Donald Harwin
Special Minister of State
Signed this 9th Day of November 2020.

To view the standard exemptions for engaging in or carrying out activities / works otherwise prohibited by section 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977 click on the link below. 		Nov 13 2020

PDF Standard exemptions for works requiring Heritage Council approval

Listings

Heritage ListingListing TitleListing NumberGazette DateGazette NumberGazette Page
Heritage Act - State Heritage Register 0187113 Dec 11 1257193-7194
Local Environmental PlanHyde Park1165409 Dec 12   
Potential Heritage Item  20 Aug 08   
National Trust of Australia register Hyde Park6188   
Register of the National EstateBusbys Bore or The Tunnel137521 Mar 75   

References, internet links & images

TypeAuthorYearTitleInternet Links
WrittenAitken, Richard and Beaver, David1989Prince Alfred Park - a park for the machine age View detail
WrittenBligh, Beatrice1980Cherish the Earth: The story of Gardening in Australia
WrittenClifford, Lisa and Webb, Mandy1997Walking Sydney: A guide to Sydney's 25 Best Walks
WrittenClouston Associates2006Hyde Park Plan of Management and Master Plan View detail
WrittenCorrey, Allan, in Aitken, Richard and Looker, Michael (Ed's), in 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens'2002Berzins Ilmar (entry)
WrittenCouncil of the City of Sydney1992The redevelopment of Hyde Park south : a guide [brochure]
WrittenCouncil of the City of Sydney, 6/2011,History Program, in "Early Contact", in Barani Barrabugu - Sydney’s Aboriginal Journey, Walking Tours booklet2011‘Hyde Park South, Sydney’ View detail
WrittenGilbert, Lionel2001The Little Giant - the life and work of Joseph Henry Maiden
WrittenGML2012Hyde Park Archaeological Management Plan
WrittenGML Heritage2016Hyde Park, Package 3 (access & entry upgrades), Heritage Impact Statement
WrittenGML Heritage2016Museum Station - Hyde Park entry café landscaping - Heritage Impact Statement
WrittenHansen, Nick2015'Striking war art hits mark' (Hyde Park)
WrittenHBO + EMTB2002Heritage Review Study
WrittenKarskens, Grace2009The Colony: A History of Early Sydney
WrittenKnox, Paul, in 'Sydney Parks History'2009Hyde Park
WrittenMackaness, Caroline & Butler-Bowden, Caroline2007Sydney, Then & Now
WrittenMcDonald McPhee P/L1990Hyde Park South Conservation Plans for Culturally Significant Items
WrittenMorris, Colleen2016Planting New South Wales - the role of the Sydney Botanic Gardens
WrittenMorris, Colleen2008Lost Gardens of Sydney
WrittenProudfoot, Helen1990Hyde Park Sydney - the 1927 Remodelling competition View detail
WrittenProudfoot, Helen (2)1987Hyde Park Sydney : statement of significance and historical analysis / Helen Proudfoot for the Council of the City of Sydney View detail
WrittenProudfoot, Helen, in Aitken, R. & Looker, M. (ed.s), 2002, 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens'2002Hyde Park entry
WrittenRead, Stuart (compliing notes from various sources, including Sydney City Council, 2006, walking tour brochure: op.cit.)2008'Hyde Park' View detail
WrittenSmith, Lawrie2003230 Years since Sir Joseph Banks - a review of the Built Landscape In Australia. View detail
WrittenState Planning Authority1965Hyde Park Barracks
WrittenSydney City Council1988Hyde Park: a brief history / by Sydney City Council
WrittenSydney City Council (Henson, Rick; and Fitzgerald, Shirley, for SCC), Historical Walking Tours Brochure2006'Heritage: Sydney Heritage Walk' (item 15: Hyde Park, on the walk)
WrittenSydney Water2004Tank Stream: Sydney's First Water Supply
Writtenunattributed2010'Recognising the Macquarie Legacy' View detail
ElectronicWhitaker, Dr Anne-Maree2009Hyde Park Sydney In 'Sydney Parks History' View detail
WrittenWhitehead, Georgina (ed.)2001Planting the Nation View detail

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.
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(Click on thumbnail for full size image and image details)

Data source

The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name: Heritage NSW
Database number: 5060189
File number: EF14/5442; 11/9843; S91/1057/2

Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the State Heritage Inventory is correct. If you find any errors or omissions please send your comments to the Database Manager.

All information and pictures on this page are the copyright of the Heritage Division or respective copyright owners.