RHODES

this inner   west district of Sydney  presents to  the community of Sydney and also visitors  interesting concept of living in  busy ,    car depending metropolis of Sydney .   Some  still remember old days when  Rhodes   was the place of   chemical     industry  .   It is  history now  ,  like the   history when   Rhodes  derived its name from the  name of  the home of an early resident, Thomas Walker . He named his property Rhodes after his grandmother residence , Rhodes Hall, in   Leeds, England.  Rhodes AD 2013 , during last few years ,  settled attractively on  peninsula  wrapped by Homebush Bay and Brays Bay , which  are part of Parramatta River  turned into attractive place   . It is architecturally  pleasing area of Sydney .  While looking    west  from Rhodes  one can see birds sanctuary ,Olympic Park  and also skyline of the Wentworth Point which  soon will be connected with Rhodes by bridge . Bikers and walkers  will again  have great fun to enjoy the area   and the attractions around the place   .The  wide and long walks around  the bay  bring to Rhodes photographers  who with artistic eye  appreciate  sparkles of  reflections of beautiful sunsets  which create   romantic mood   on water  with charming colours of    silver and gold of Sun light .

Rhodes  became  vibrant , multi cultural community . Here  the young professional  , retires , also families of all  cultures find peace   and  joy of domiciling in attractively designed  and  speciously  appointed  apartments.
Proximity of  Sydney commuter  railway system , ferry from  Meadowbank  being short walk    across the  bridge to other side of the river , busses  to  surrounding suburbs presents to the residents   of Rhodes great alternatives to commute to City of Sydney . Wide network of bike ways allows  Sydneysiders  and
residents of Rhodes to enjoy great bike trips to parklands ,  nature reserves , Olympic Park and sport    facilities  which  settled here in this truly vibrant and joyous  place .

The area is  full of historical and truly pleasing for visitors places .  The Walker Estates  present to the Canada Bay area of Sydney  many fascinating elements of Sydney history .  Here in this historically rich area beside  Walker Estates – Yaralla House (Dame Eadith Walker Hospital)  are interesting  structures  of  Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital (Rivendell), and the Yaralla Cottages.The Yaralla Estate,  being placed by the Parramatta River, played very noteworthy role in the history of Australia.  It is important to mention  that the  Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital  being called  Rivendell  was established  to care for people of Sydney . The Yaralla  Cottages  on other hand was  built by Dame Eadith Walker for  house members of her staff who could no longer
perform working duties in the estate  .  These   noble actions show to the readers and visitors of the Estate that the    people in Sydney have represented very generous and carrying attitude to  members of   bygone days of Sydney .

While  visiting  area of Rhodes  one can see exotic area of mangrove shrubs  and trees , small water marshes , lakes   and we came across  the birds  sanctuaries where  black swans  on the nest ,  gliding pelicans  and  variety   of fowl  and other birds  charm one with riches of the fauna .  One can also visit , being walking  or bike ride distance to the marvel of sport  facilities which is the Sydney 2000 Olympic Park and its swimming pools ,    stadiums and other arenas for joy end entertainment of Sydneysiders. As well leafy  , relaxing and informative walk  of “    Kokoda trail “ where history of Australian “ diggers “ during the WWII  in PNG ,struggle is presented in audio-visual  fashion .

So , train from Central station ,  ferry from ,Circular Quay  to the Meadowbank  or Olympic Park   ferry terminals or by bus from Strathfield and Burwood  one can reach this vibrant and cosmopolitan suburb of Sydney .

Of course  international visitor can visit  many  more interesting parts of Sydney while arriving to this Pacific  city while travelling to Australia on many various  carriers like Qantas Airways , Singapore Airlines  or from Europe using LOT Polish Airlines
services from Warsaw to Beijing and from there on Air China to Sydney or other  capitals of the Australian states.

WMIG           04 September  2013

this  , year    of   2013, celebrates its 100 years  birthday .

Century ago  Lady  Denman, wife of then Governor-General Lord Denman, on the  Foundation Stones  of this great city we enjoy now ,  declared   that  name of the new Australian  capital  will be Canberra.  In 1913  at the sheep  station  by Molonglo River  , aboriginal name “ Canberra “ meaning “ meeting place  was bestowed upon this  place , presenting 100 years later a shining example of  great achievements of Australia as the  modern  nation.  This town is true  jewel of   Australian architecture . Patterns of   streets and avenues layout  in “  star “  concept,   the gardens  , parks , attractive lake with Commonwealth Avenue spanning its shores ,  surrounding hills provides one with many great  visual and also travelling surprises.

Walter  Burley Griffin , who once worked for   Frank Lloyd Wright and his wife  Marion Mahoney laid the concepts of triangular framework  , nestled in the hills and valleys  ,   where  Mount Ainslie and Black  Mountain  present mighty vistas  of Canberra .
Griffin  came to Australia in 1913 and  became  soon Federal Capital Director of  Design and Construction while Mahoney was working on design of city where  building , roads  , gardens , in balanced symbiosis present  city of joy for its citizens.  Same year  , 1913 Charles Weston , took the task of huge challenge to make this dry , windswept , largely treeless place ,   green , habitable  and  pleasing to its  community .
He was  the first  Officer – in – Charge  of Afforestation Branch  later became Superintendent of Parks and  Gardens  as he  initiated planting of wide range of  exotic    and also indigenous  trees, which  we visitors enjoy as much as the inhabitants of Canberra .

Here  in this attractive  town  “ captains and chieftains “ of politics ,  science  also art are based . From here  they “ navigate “ Australia  into success  as a nation . During the rough moments of  resent world economic “ lows”  Australia has weathered  the economic doldrums . Here is extraordinary  architectural creation Australian , two houses , Parliament is seated .    House of Representatives /lower house  and  Senate /states house  present forum for  Australian citizens representative to discuss , analyse  and   declare laws  for the socio-  economic machinery of Australia to function as the  modern , democratic machinery of  nationhood.  Canberra  beside being national capital of  Australia  is  also self governed city – state  of Australian Capital Territory  / ACT/ , where  300000   citizens domicile in well balanced urban , economic and cultural environment  .

Robert Menzies   Prime Minister of Australia , when in 1958  National   Capital Development  Commission  was established , has played  very important  role   to assure that Canberra will  be Garden City  with modern transportation  to many venues of  major culture institutions , like National  Gallery of Australia  or National  Portrait Gallery . Canberra Symphony Orchestra  despite being housed between Sydney and   Melbourne where great symphony orchestra charm the ears of visitors , presents  great spectrum of musical experiences for the people of Canberra and visitors  alike.   Orchestra   of Canberra , city so close to Australian nature , often plays music of  Australian contemporary composer Ross Edwards , whose compositions reflect beauty of Australian bush , nature  and over all its cosmic position .

Many interesting suburbs of Canberra treat  visitors with truly pleasing atmosphere .  Manuka being one of oldest suburb of the city presents great places to dine ,
enjoy Canberra  district wine or just  enjoy the relaxing atmosphere . Yarralumla   on other hand is the district where Embassies of world nations are  situated . The  building designs  present to the visitors  bold , courageous  and  attractive  concepts . Often expressing the culture  and national spirit  of the country it represents ,  allowing for visual feast .   Manuka  and Yarralumla  both of these suburbs are  in vicinity of Capital Hill , which is worth of visit . From here  great  vistas  provide visitor to appreciate Canberra urban  concept . While on  Capital  Hill one can also visit the Parliament House  of Australia . After this experience  pleasant stroll to Old Parliament House is very  relaxing moment of visit to  Canberra .

For these who do not  wish to visit Canberra by their own ,  Capital of Australia is reachable   by bus , train or plain . Overseas visitors  can reach Canberra via Sydney  , Melbourne where many airlines bring them  from all corners of the world .   Many Airlines like LOT Polish Airlines member  of “ Star Alliance “   being “ off –line “ carrier in Australia , can    also provides services to Canberra  , while using   services of  its partners like  Singapore Airlines, Thai International Airways , Air China , Qantas Airways .

WMIG

Canberra 10 July 2013

http://www.visitcanberra.com.au/

http://nga.gov.au/Home/Default.cfm

http://www.portrait.gov.au/

http://www.cso.org.au/