Old Sydney Town
Encyclopedia
Old Sydney Town was a small open air museum
which operated from 1975 until 2003 in the town of Somersby
, near Gosford
New South Wales
, Australia
. The park was intended to be a living tribute to Australia
's colonial past.
. It was developed by architect Frank Fox with the help of the Federal Government and the Bank of NSW
. The Wran
state government took over the federal investment shortly after the Fraser
government took power at the end of 1975.
During its lifetime, the park had 6 million visitors .
When the park was closed in 2003, the operators blamed the closure partly on what they call the "instant gratification" generation that demands computer games and thrill-rides, rather than a leisurely stroll through history.
Since the park closed to the public it has been let for movie shoots.
The Town was set out according to James Meehan
's map of Sydney in 1803 and consisted of over 30 authentically reconstructed buildings. This reconstruction of 1803's Sydney closed exactly 200 years later.
Open air museum
An open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...
which operated from 1975 until 2003 in the town of Somersby
Somersby, New South Wales
Somersby is a semi-rural locality of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located to the northwest of Gosford along the Pacific Highway...
, near Gosford
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The park was intended to be a living tribute to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's colonial past.
History
The park was opened in 1975 by Gough WhitlamGough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
. It was developed by architect Frank Fox with the help of the Federal Government and the Bank of NSW
Westpac
Westpac , is a multinational financial services, one of the Australian "big four" banks and the second-largest bank in New Zealand....
. The Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
state government took over the federal investment shortly after the Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
government took power at the end of 1975.
During its lifetime, the park had 6 million visitors .
When the park was closed in 2003, the operators blamed the closure partly on what they call the "instant gratification" generation that demands computer games and thrill-rides, rather than a leisurely stroll through history.
Since the park closed to the public it has been let for movie shoots.
Attractions
James Meehan
James Meehan was an Irish-Australian explorer and surveyor.Meehan was born in Ireland in 1774, and was one of a number of political prisoners who arrived in Australia in February 1800. Two months later he became an assistant to Charles Grimes, the surveyor-general, and went with him to explore the...
's map of Sydney in 1803 and consisted of over 30 authentically reconstructed buildings. This reconstruction of 1803's Sydney closed exactly 200 years later.
- "Sydney Cove" - a recreation of Sydney Harbour
- Soldiers on parade.
- Thundering cannons.
- Pistol duels and convict rebellion.
- Magistrate's Court.
- Convict punishment
- Bullock Rides, Horse-drawn wagons
- Craft stores
- Kiosk, Tea Shop, BarbecueBarbecueBarbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
Facilities