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Tuesday
The room was slightly warm last night, we could have asked for the air conditioner to be turned on at the front desk but we decided having the window open, was enough air circulating the room.
YHA Breakfast! yes, looking forward to this. The kitchens, 4 in all, are large and well stocked for self cooking and cleaning. We opted for the $6.50 Continental, cereal, toast, tea or muesli, yoghurt, coffee, wash up your dirty dishes and return to the shop. You could buy a 'cook your own' breaky for $6.00 that's reasonable.
Our plan is to catch a ferry with Captain Cook Cruises to Fort Denison (Pinchgut) before heading to Hyde Park Barracks via some historic spots today so firstly we each bought our tickets at $20.00 return, then chose a short walking route while waiting the hour and a half departure of the ferry Cat.
Firstly, cross Alfred Street to Loftus Street and Customs house, inside amazingly, under the glass floor is the city of Sydney in miniature.
We disappeared from each others sight for bit while we wondered around Customs House but it wasn't long before we were together again. We did spread out a little, but never too far, that way we got slightly different photos. The mobile phone was an advantage.
To Loftus street again, to the side of the building where you see the Union Jack flag flying on the left side of the street. I wouldn't have noticed it at all! only seen it in a pamphlet. I'm amazed at what I've learnt.
This is the original position the British flag was raised by the first fleet in 1788. Just up the street a little from here is Macquarie Place, originally swampy mangrove on the banks of the Tank Stream you find the obelisk that marks the point that all distances in the new colony were measured.
Sirius, flag ship of the first fleet was lost at sea off Norfolk Island in 1790, her anchor sits on display nearby.
Bridge street corners Macquarie Park and was named so for the wooden foot bridge that crossed the Tank Stream not far from this park. For the first time noticing the lay of the land from this point, while imagining the swampy area we would have been standing beside 200 + years ago.
The 10.30 ferry from wharf 6 to Fort Denison, a very fast Cat took about 10 minutes to land us at our destination.
The first name given by Governor Phillip was Rock Island.
The first Convict sentenced to one week on Rock Island was Thomas Hill, in irons and fed on bread and water, hence the name Pinchgut and that name stuck.
The first convict hung from the gibbet was Francis Morgan in 1796
Transported for murder, he was executed for a second bashing murder in Sydney.
Pinchgut stood 15 meters high of sandstone and this was leveled and used for the construction of Circular Quay.
In 1839 two American war ships circled Pinchgut hence a fortification was decided. The beautiful Sydney sandstone to construct the fort was transported from Neutral Bay, was completed in 1857 and was then given the new name of Fort Denison.
The Martello Tower was the only one ever built in Australia and the last ever constructed in the British Empire.
Here also, on 'Pinchgut' are 'Dig' works being carried out..
Fort Denison has always been the place where our tides are measured.
And that was Fort Denison.....
Much more to see and do for the rest of the day
