No, this is not where I live! But I do pass this grand Victorian residence, protecting its privacy behind exuberant growth, and try to imagine a life that includes living in something like that.
In August I moved from ocean-side Bondi Beach to harbour-side Double Bay (both Sydney suburbs), which has brought me closer to where I work — so close (4km) that I can walk it in 55 minutes, door to door.
These magnificent jacarandas dominate this curve in the road.
It’s a very up and down route, and Google Maps has a nifty feature that shows just how much.
Up and down and up and down …
This church (St Mark’s, built 1848 to 1880) sits at the highest spot on the map above, just after “home”. With no tall buildings, there must have been vast views when it was built — but on the other hand, there wasn’t much to look at in 1880s’ Sydney!
I always pause here and marvel that so many people have this view. The horizon looks murky due to smoke from bush fires.
Time to head down from the lofty heights of the church to almost sea level. This road is, fittingly, called Loftus Road. I first encountered it walking home from work so had to slog UP it — after that, I changed the route home. 😉
Down, down, down. Hard on the knees.
Not only jacarandas are in bloom now — so is jasmine, and it’s everywhere. The scent hangs on the air.
Jasmine
Jasmine
Of course, there’s more to life than jasmine!
Red bougainvillea against a white wall.
At the bottom of the “hill from hell” sits Rushcutters Bay and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. The CYC was established in 1944 and hosts the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race that begins on Boxing Day (26 December).
CYC — and jasmine.
What’s a yacht club without yachts?
This is the expansive park beside Rushcutters Bay. At this time of the day, it’s full of joggers, walkers, exercise groups, and dogs (though it looks empty in this shot!). See that tower (like a yellow blob on a stick) on the horizon? That’s two blocks from my destination.
A lovely cafe, but no time to stop. (Sorry Jo, no cake on this walk!)
The Beast of Bodmin Moor? The Hound of the Baskervilles? No, just an elderly Newfoundland dog with his summer haircut. I see him most days.
Anyone for cricket?
I almost didn’t include this photo, as it’s hardly attractive. But it’s part of the walk, and the start of the long uphill stretch to King’s Cross.
Still heading up, but beside a more attractive street. This area is King’s Cross.
This pavement sign is hard to read even when you’re standing beside it. The whole text says “August 1929 Kellett St | Riot | Sly Grog Traders | Kate Leigh vs Tilly Devine | Rival Gangs in Violent Stoush | Razors Guns Bottles Stones | Wounded Do Not Identify Attackers to Police”. (Read about these two fascinating (if scary!) women.)
King’s Cross is gentrifying these days, but it still has its areas of sleaze, crime and violence.
The heart of “The Cross”.
I don’t like this alley (I usually have to flatten myself against the wall as cars go past) but it’s convenient.
I don’t know if this street is officially in King’s Cross or Woolloomooloo, but its character is very different to the streets where the walk starts and ends.
Now we’re definitely in Woolloomooloo — the signs say so! Originally home to dock workers, the area still has an air of non-prosperity despite being only 1.5km from the Sydney Central Business District.
More of those jacarandas. I can’t help smiling at such shameless flamboyance as I walk under the gentle drift of petals. And there’s that tower again …
You can see more photos of the jacarandas of Woolloomooloo here.
Original houses, Forbes St, Woolloomooloo.
Original houses, Forbes St, Woolloomooloo.
Yet more jasmine!
If you’ve read any of my other walk posts, you’ll know I hate stairs. However, this being the city not the bush, there’s a lift here too. 🙂 The stairs/lift take you up to a walkway over six lanes of busy commuter traffic.
I dread the day the lift is out of action.
Pedestrian walkway.
The tower is visible again, closer now! And that’s the train I catch when I don’t walk. From the angle of the colourful wall, you can tell I’m going up, again.
Past the art gallery.
Another appealing cafe to march straight past.
This is The Domain, where you could graze your animals back when that was a thing.
Through the grounds of Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital.
Stepping through the gates beside the hospital, you leave the world of the suburbs behind.
At the top of Martin Place. It’s all downhill from here!
I often top up my travel card and buy my (losing) lottery tickets at this little kiosk.
Past the cenotaph.
Trams are running on George St — at last! Still in ‘testing’, but at least the years of wretched construction are over. This tram is just about in front of my office building.
Last glimpse of that tower, from in front of my building.
And here’s the end of the walk, in the lobby of my building.
I hope you managed with all these photos! It’s a varied walk and I wanted to capture the different areas along the way.
Posted as part of Jo’s Monday Walks.
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