Parks, gardens and Squares around Sydney
Centennial Park : Botanic Gardens : The Zoo : Other Parks - Hyde Park; Wynyard Park
Centennial Park : Botanic Gardens : The Zoo : Other Parks - Hyde Park; Wynyard Park
![Picture](/uploads/5/4/6/4/54641459/165-centennial-park-lowres_orig.jpg)
Centennial Park
Centennial Park has a distinctive and special place in Australian history and culture. It was once a huge catchment of creeks, swamps, springs, sand dunes and ponds fed by ground water, and was traditionally home to the Gadi people.
In 1811, Governor Lachlan Macquarie designated the area as the second Sydney Common and it was used for grazing, lime burning and timber clearing.
In 1825, convict labour was used to build a 3.5 km underground aqueduct, known as Busbys Bore, from the swamps to Hyde Park. This bore supplied Sydney’s main water supply from 1837 to 1859.
Centennial Park has a distinctive and special place in Australian history and culture. It was once a huge catchment of creeks, swamps, springs, sand dunes and ponds fed by ground water, and was traditionally home to the Gadi people.
In 1811, Governor Lachlan Macquarie designated the area as the second Sydney Common and it was used for grazing, lime burning and timber clearing.
In 1825, convict labour was used to build a 3.5 km underground aqueduct, known as Busbys Bore, from the swamps to Hyde Park. This bore supplied Sydney’s main water supply from 1837 to 1859.
![Picture](/uploads/5/4/6/4/54641459/published/165-centennial-park-013-lowres.jpg?1546406950)
In 1888, Sir Henry Parkes dedicated Centennial Park as a public open space for the enjoyment of the people of NSW. Hundreds of unemployed men were enlisted to turn swamps, scrub and rock into a grand park in the Victorian tradition with formal gardens, ponds, statues and wide avenues for Sydneysiders to drive their carriages around to ‘take the air’.
On 1 January 1901, Centennial Park became the focus of the nation as the site of the inauguration of Australian Federation (this event is commemorated today by the Federation Pavilion).
On 1 January 1901, Centennial Park became the focus of the nation as the site of the inauguration of Australian Federation (this event is commemorated today by the Federation Pavilion).
![Picture](/uploads/5/4/6/4/54641459/published/265-centennial-park-lowres.jpg?1546407098)
In the early 1800s the area on which Centennial Park is now situated was was a catchment area of creeks, swamps, springs, sand dunes and ponds fed by ground water.
In 1825 John Busby, city surveyor and civil engineer, surveyed the swamp after Sydney’s original water supply, the Tank Stream, was found to be ‘foul and almost empty’. Busby reported that Lachlan Swamps’ water was "free from every taste and smell, and so soft as to be fit for every purpose".
Construction began in 1827 on an subterranean aqueduct to gravity feed water to the township of Sydney. The 3.5 kilometre aqueduct was bored using convict labour from Hyde Park, under Oxford Street and across to the Lachlan Reserve. Completed in 1837 this aqueduct is now known as Busby’s Bore, one of Sydney’s most important pieces of early industrial development.
In 1825 John Busby, city surveyor and civil engineer, surveyed the swamp after Sydney’s original water supply, the Tank Stream, was found to be ‘foul and almost empty’. Busby reported that Lachlan Swamps’ water was "free from every taste and smell, and so soft as to be fit for every purpose".
Construction began in 1827 on an subterranean aqueduct to gravity feed water to the township of Sydney. The 3.5 kilometre aqueduct was bored using convict labour from Hyde Park, under Oxford Street and across to the Lachlan Reserve. Completed in 1837 this aqueduct is now known as Busby’s Bore, one of Sydney’s most important pieces of early industrial development.
Links to the places around NSW
Beaches and Bays ; Bridges ; Buildings ; Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour
Hospitals ; Parks and Gardens ; Railways and Stations ; Roads
Statues ; Suburbs ; Greater NSW
Beaches and Bays ; Bridges ; Buildings ; Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour
Hospitals ; Parks and Gardens ; Railways and Stations ; Roads
Statues ; Suburbs ; Greater NSW