TaylorSquare A History
the above picture demonstrates the topography of the
paddington side of taylor square
from the beauchamp hotel on the left to barcom
avenue (at right) was a creek and bridge denoting the most easterly boundary of
the town of sydney (the boundary creek ran from the catchment-the area from the
high point of st margaret's hospital to this low point behind the beauchamp from
there across south head road to what is now part of the hospital then to
boundary creek-part of the west estate and on into rushcutters bay.
also demonstrating the reason for positioning the
gaol and court house on as it was then a very prominent hill at the
southern end of the visible eastern boundary of the town of sydney.
DARLINGHURST RIDGE
an understanding of the local topography can be gained
by observing the rise from the south head road (middle foreground-modern
oxford street) up to the courthouse and the town shown in the mid-to far
distance on the left of the picture.
elizabeth street & old st.marys
can be glimpsed on the left-
victoria street being put through to this point very early
on when it was realised the topography of the area did not permit in real terms
what looked so achievable on a plan on a table top -ie dowling street from
woolloomooloo all the way to botany bay-dowling street and south dowling street
do line up from napier street and if it were not for the massive sandstone out
crop of what is now darley street (darley street can still be lined up on street
maps of the area along the lines of dowling street woolloomooloo & south dowling
street )
to a certain extent bourke street fulfilled the promise of
a street from the harbour to botany bay but being on the western side of
woolloomooloo bay did not quite achieve the monumental avenue originally
planed from the east side at the harbours edge.
