For faster navigation, this Iframe is preloading the Wikiwand page for Belmore Park.

Belmore Park

Belmore Park
Belmore Park bounded by Central station and the railway line (1920s)
Map
LocationHay Street, Eddy Avenue, Elizabeth Street and Pitt Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates33°52′53″S 151°12′28″E / 33.88149°S 151.20769°E / -33.88149; 151.20769
Created19 May 1868 (1868-05-19)[1]
EtymologySomerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore
Operated bySydney City Council
StatusOpen all year

Belmore Park is a public park at the southern end of the Sydney central business district in the Australian state of New South Wales. Adjacent to the Central railway station, the park is bounded by Hay Street, Eddy Avenue, Elizabeth Street and Pitt Street. The area was previously known as Police Paddock and was part of a section of Crown land which included the Police Barracks, Devonshire Street Cemetery, Female Refuge of the Good Samaritan, Benevolent Asylum and a common.

History

[edit]

The area was landscaped and in 1868 it opened as a park dedicated to Somerset Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl Belmore the then Governor of New South Wales. In 1901 the whole area was resumed[2] for the construction of Sydney's Central railway station with the majority of excavated earth placed on the common, burying the original layout.[1] During the 1908–09 Royal Commission for the Improvement of the City of Sydney and Its Suburbs major landscaping works for the area were proposed by commissioner Norman Selfe.[3]

Due to its proximity to the city, and especially to Central station, the park has long been a place for groups to gather—for protests, markets, events or performances. For example, in 1878 in front of a large crowd, Henri L'Estrange unsuccessfully tried twice to launch himself in a gas balloon, while during the 2000 Summer Olympics the park became one of five "live sites" where the games were publicly broadcast.[4] In the late 1860s "Belmore Produce Markets" and Paddy's Markets were built in the area opposite the current park—now known as Haymarket.

The park is a key public transport hub. The final section of above-ground railway track forms the eastern edge of the park before going underground as the City Circle. Transdev John Holland buses in the direction of the Eastern Suburbs including express buses to the University of New South Wales depart from Eddy Avenue along which the CBD and South East Light Rail now runs. The western edge of the park is defined by a roadway ramp to the concourse level of the railway station. The terminus loop of the Inner West Light Rail line forms a ring around the entire park using ramps on both eastern and western edges to access the train station concourse.

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Belmore Park, Haymarket". Sydney Parks History. City of Sydney. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Appropriated"; as in the Real Property Act 1900 -- Section 31A.
  3. ^ Report of the Royal Commission for the Improvement of Sydney and Its Suburbs, New South Wales Parliamentary Papers, vol 5, 1909. Cited in Freyne, Catherine (2009). "Selfe, Norman". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  4. ^ Spokes, Hazel (30 September 2000). "Live sites capture the Olympic vibe". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
[edit]
{{bottomLinkPreText}} {{bottomLinkText}}
Belmore Park
Listen to this article

This browser is not supported by Wikiwand :(
Wikiwand requires a browser with modern capabilities in order to provide you with the best reading experience.
Please download and use one of the following browsers:

This article was just edited, click to reload
This article has been deleted on Wikipedia (Why?)

Back to homepage

Please click Add in the dialog above
Please click Allow in the top-left corner,
then click Install Now in the dialog
Please click Open in the download dialog,
then click Install
Please click the "Downloads" icon in the Safari toolbar, open the first download in the list,
then click Install
{{::$root.activation.text}}

Install Wikiwand

Install on Chrome Install on Firefox
Don't forget to rate us

Tell your friends about Wikiwand!

Gmail Facebook Twitter Link

Enjoying Wikiwand?

Tell your friends and spread the love:
Share on Gmail Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Buffer

Our magic isn't perfect

You can help our automatic cover photo selection by reporting an unsuitable photo.

This photo is visually disturbing This photo is not a good choice

Thank you for helping!


Your input will affect cover photo selection, along with input from other users.

X

Get ready for Wikiwand 2.0 🎉! the new version arrives on September 1st! Don't want to wait?