Hyde Park

Overview

Hyde Park is Australia's oldest public parkland, established in 1810 by Governor Macquarie. The 16-hectare park is divided by Park Street into a northern section (with the Archibald Fountain) and a southern section (with the ANZAC Memorial).

Highlights

• Archibald Fountain: A bronze and granite fountain (1932) by François-Léon Sicard depicting Apollo, Diana, and Theseus.
• ANZAC Memorial: An Art Deco memorial (1934) with a moving interior sculpture of a fallen soldier borne by his comrades.
• Fig tree avenue: A 300-metre avenue of mature Moreton Bay figs planted in the 1870s.

History

Named after London's Hyde Park, it was originally used as a racecourse, cricket pitch, and military drill ground. The Archibald Fountain commemorates the Franco-Australian alliance in WWI.

Visitor Tips

• Free: Always open, a convenient green respite in the CBD.
• ANZAC Memorial: Free entry; the basement gallery has WWI and WWII artefacts.
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.