Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
now and the land subdivided
for apartment living. Kirribilli,
meaning “place for fishing”, is
the most densely populated
suburb in Australia.
The larger, more dominant of
the two houses is Admiralty
House, built as a single-storey
residence in 1843. Between
1885 and 1913 it served as the
residence of the commanding
officer of Britain's Royal Navy
Pacific Squadron, which was
based in Sydney. Fortifications
on the shoreline recall its mil-
itary history. Now the official
Sydney home of Australia's
governor-general, it is said that
even its shed could be consid-
ered the city's best address.
In 1855, the charming Gothic
Kirribilli House, with its steep
gables and decorative fretwork,
was built in the grounds of
Admiralty House. Today it is
the official Sydney residence
of Australia's prime minister.
THE COLOURFUL FACES OF LUNA PARK
The gateway to Luna Park is
the gaping mouth of a huge
laughing face, flanked by two
36-m (129-ft) Art Deco tow-
ers. Between 1935 and 1945,
four successive canvas, wire
and plaster faces fell to the
ravages of time. Built in the
1950s, the fifth face was
replaced in 1973 with one
designed by the Sydney artist
Martin Sharp. The seventh,
made in 1982, is now at the
Powerhouse Museum
(see
pp100-101)
. Today's face
(1994) is made of poly-
urethane and fibreglass.
The gateway to Luna Park with
its famous face
has since reopened, and entry
is free so you can just enjoy
the atmosphere or buy a ticket
and catch the views from the
Ferris Wheel. Las Vegas glitz
and 1940s Futurism are just two
of the styles at one of Sydney's
most treasured icons. The
old-style fun house Coney
Island, Crystal Palace and the
gateway face are all heritage
listed. The Big Top, a 2,000-
seat venue, hosts music,
dance and comedy acts.
Nutcote
9
5 Wallaringa Ave, Neutral Bay.
Tel
9953 4453.
g
Hayes Street,
Neutral Bay.
#
11am-3pm Wed-Sun.
¢
some public hols.
&
6
8
One of the classics of Aust-
ralian children's literature,
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
, was
published in 1918. Since then,
these two characters - known
as the “gumnut” babies along
with the cartoon characters Bib
and Bub - have been loved by
countless young Australians.
Nutcote was, for 44 years,
the home of their creator, illus-
trator and author May Gibbs.
Saved from demolition then
Kirribilli Point
8
Kirribilli Ave, Kirribilli.
Luna Park's ferris wheel
Luna Park
7
1 Olympic Drive, Milsons Point.
Tel
9922 6644.
g
Kirribilli
North Sydney.
The two houses Occupying
this prominent headland, in
their delightful garden settings,
are typical of the magnificent
homes in sprawling grounds
that once ringed the harbour.
Most have been demolished
11am-4pm Mon,
11am-10pm Fri-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun
(additional hours during school &
public hols).
#
g
Milsons Point.
7
www
.lunaparksydney.com
This famous fun fair, built on
the site of former Harbour
Bridge construction workshops,
was modelled on Luna Park
at Coney Island, New York. It
opened in 1935 using rides
from a short-lived Luna Park
in South Australia. For the next
43 years it was one of the most
conspicuous landmarks on the
harbour foreshores. Except
during the compulsory
blackouts of World War II, its
brilliant illuminations were a
feature of the city's night scene.
In 1979, seven people were
killed in a ghost train fire, a
tragedy that led to the park's
immediate closure. The park
Admiralty House and Kirribilli House, near Sydney Harbour Bridge
