Look what's happened to Gowings (2)

Reception

Look what's happened to Gowings

This is brand spanking new QT Hotel which occupies the old Gowings and State Theatre buildings in Market Street. Much as I miss Gowings, I love what they've done. The staff are dressed in specially designed uniforms and specially wigged and made up every day. I just wish I could afford to stay there. Have a look at the rooms.

Coffee Shop in the Foyer, opposite the lifts

While preserving two of the city’s most iconic buildings, QT Sydney is destined to become a new landmark by reviving a rich and colorful past of theatre and retail. Set within the historic Gowings department store and heritage-listed State Theatre in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, the surrounding area is brimming with culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design, while still being within easy reach of sandy beaches. With stars from stage and screen having performed in the State Theatre over the past 80 years, and the classic retail of the Gowings department store, the QT Sydney captures the intrigue and excitement of the past in an edgy, contemporary design style. 

The 200 guest rooms come in 12 different styles – most equipped with a signature oversized bathtub and shower and unique design pieces that reference the buildings’ past. The lower levels of the buildings have remained unchanged, but important historic fittings and fixtures – such as original stone cladding, gargoyles, facade detail, original timber floors and retail showcases – which have been damaged or removed over decades, have been carefully restored.

The lifts.

Coloured denim

I went in to buy some jeans, without success, but found this very colourfull character instead. He did tell me his name but I'm afraid I've forgotten.

Well dressed man

Portable puppy

Monochrome Weekend

I don't think this one works very well in b&w. I prefer it in colour.

For more monochrome madness, visit Dragonstar's Weekend in Black and White. 

Weekend Reflections

For more reflections visit James' Weekend Reflections.

More of Graphic

The most unusual instrument of all - but the cutest.

More of Graphic

More of Graphic

Various musicians scattered throughout and around the Opera House were making music in unusual ways.

I knew him, Horatio

I was taken by this Bell Shakespeare poster in the theatre foyer at the Opera House.

Childhood memories

Monochrome Weekend

For more monochrome madness, visit Dragonstar's Weekend in Black and White. 

Weekend Reflections

Part of Graphic "a weekend of graphic storytelling, animation and music, the Opera House had musicians playing the strangest instruments in the strangest places. This one was in the ladies toilets. More of Graphic next week.

For more reflections visit James' Weekend Reflections.

Sky Watch Friday

For more Sky Watch from around the world, drop in to the home of Sky Watch Friday.

Soon to be no more

NSW Department of Primary Industries' Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence is the oldest fisheries research facility in the Southern Hemisphere. In September 2011 the NSW Government announced staff and functions of the centre will be relocated to regional coastal centres at Coffs Harbour, Port Stephens and Nowra. Staff engaged in fisheries research, commercial, recreational and indigenous fisheries licensing and management, and the corporate services area for the Department will be relocated. Science facilities and functions will move to the Port Stephens Fisheries Institute and Research Centre of Excellence. Commercial fisheries management will be located at the National Marine Science Centre at Coffs Harbour. Recreational and indigenous fisheries management will be located at Nowra.

The Legislative Council Inquiry into the closure " ...  has concluded that there is an overwhelming case to retain the scientific staff, facilities and support personnel at the Centre and we have recommended that the Government reverse its decision.” The Committee's recommendations will make no difference and the facility is rapidly becoming a ghost town as staff relocate or take redundancy.

The H.C Dannevig Fisheries Laboratory is was a state-of-the-art facility which continually assists assisted in ground breaking fisheries research.

It houses housed the Department of Primary Industries' scientists doing research projects with the Wild Fisheries unit, including: ageing fish and invertebrates growth, survival and reproduction of commercially and recreationally important aquatic species assessments of fish attracting devices and artificial reefs and assessments of minimisation of by-catch of fishing gears.

The heritage-listed aquarium at Cronulla was the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

It is now was used to learn about our commercially and recreationally important fish species, such as studies on age validation and tag retention.

The Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre of Excellence’s library is was the only fisheries-specific library in NSW and services serviced many universities and schools. It houses housed an extensive and historic range of international and domestic journals and books. It also holds held all publications from the Centres’ scientists.

Cuttlefish in the aquarium

Between 1949 and 1967 some of the buildings currently used as offices were part of the Cronulla Migrant Hostel and housed thousands of people for up to two years. The accommodation was basic, consisting of small rooms with two single beds and bedside tables with communal showers and dining facilities. The hostel was closed in 1967 and the land was transferred to the CSIRO and then to the fisheries department.

Shark hanger

Looking back from the wharf, several of the buildings are heritage listed. There are also items of aboriginal heritage on the site.

New Friends

Last week Julie of Scottsdale Daily Photo and Dave of Costa Rica Daily Photo were in Sydney. Those of us who were free met them at the Glenmore for a drink and talk of all things photographic. It was good to meet them, and Jo whom I had not met before.

L to R - Julie (Sydney Eye), Julie (Scotsdale Daily Photo), Ben (son of Jo), Jo (A View of Sydney), Dave (Costa Rica Daily Photo).

Taphophile Tragics

Agha Khan Mausoleum, Aswan, Egypt

The Agha Khan is the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan was the 48th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter. He died in 1957.

More about the Ismaili and the current Agha Khan may be found here.

This is an entry in Julie's Taphophile Tragics meme.

Annual Jacaranda Post

Mark at Clarence Valley Today make his first jacaranda post weeks ago. In Sydney they seem to have taken a long time to come into flower. Looking both ways at Circular Quay, and my local trees.

Monochrome Weekend

For more monochrome madness, visit Dragonstar's Weekend in Black and White. 

Weekend Reflections

Reflections in the foyer of the Dymocks Building.

For more reflections visit James' Weekend Reflections.

Dymocks building (2)

Theme Day - Water's Edge

To dip your toes at the water's edge around the world visit the City Daily Photo November Theme Day.