Sydney from on high (5)

Looking west, we trace the line of the harbour as it ceases to be Port Jackson, and becomes either the Parramatta River or the Lane Cove River. This is the water that you see over where I was unable to avoid the reflections from the rounded windows. There are two expanses of water closer to us, and more in front. Immediately in front of my camera position is the entrance to Darling Harbour, which projects into the landform called Cockle Bay. The building with the white roof is the National Maritime Museum, which is alongside the Pyrmont bridge, which still carried the monorail in September when I took this set of images. Follow the bridge along what appears to be a tree-lined street. See the two pylons of the ANZAC Bridge which spans the entrance to Johnson's Bay, Glebe, to the left of the bridge? It is a glorious walk around the Glebe foreshore in the early mornings with the city providing a near-quiet and un-busy back-drop. From the observation level of the Sydney Tower, Sydney, Australia.

Sydney from on high (4)

This is looking north-east from the Sydney Tower observation deck. The obvious landmark is the harbour bridge, completed in 1932. At this point the water beneath the bridge changes name. On the eastern side (the right, in this image), the water is called Sydney Harbour or more officially, Port Jackson. On the western side (the left in this image), the water is called the Parramatta River. It is all a massive drowned valley. The high-rise buildings on the other side of the water are North Sydney, and the little bay in front of the high-risers, is Lavender Bay. From the bridge, one can make out the Warringah Expressway as it streams traffic away from the CBD and up to the "north shore" (curving left), or across to the northern beaches (curving right). It is pretty much houses as far as the eye can see. Sydney, Australia.

The age of steam lives again

The day dawned wet and miserable, as a major 'adverse weather event' swept across the south-east corner of our country inundating farms, villages and towns and sweeping all before it. All except the 45 hardy souls who were determined to relive the grand days of steam upon the harbour, in a journey aboard the sea-going steam tug, 'Waratah'.


Built at Cockatoo Island in 1902 as the 'Burunda', her role was to tow dredges between the major ports of the NSW coast. She was given a NSW name, 'Waratah', at the end of WW1 and in 1948, due to her age and condition, was restricted to the port of Newcastle.


In 1968 the government announced that she was uneconomical and was to be scrapped. The Sydney Heritage Fleet girded its loins for a battle. They bought her for 600 pounds.


After extensive restoration, involving a multitude of volunteer hours, the 'Waratah' steamed again in 1981 and in 1993 was granted permission to carry 49 passengers.

As we steamed from Roselle Bay up to the Concord Bridge, we were the centre of attention from other vessels and those walking the grey foreshores. With the peculiar stench of cinders and oil in my nostrils, I lived again the age of steam!



A member of the My World Tuesday community.

Thar she blows!

Th 1902 seagoing steam tug 'Waratah' blows her horn when passing under the Gladesville Bridge.

A member of The Weekend in Black and White community.