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The evolution of Circular Quay

FROM mudflats to the thriving maritime hub to transport terminal and tourist destination, Circular Quay has always been the heart of our growing city.

October 11, 2018 - 3:56PM
1839: Frederick Garling’s painting of the quay, known as semicircular quay because of the shape of the stoneworks built with convict labour to stabilise the shoreline reclaimed from mudflats. Courtesy State Library of NSW
1/211839: Frederick Garling’s painting of the quay, known as semicircular quay because of the shape of the stoneworks built with convict labour to stabilise the shoreline reclaimed from mudflats. Courtesy State Library of NSW
1845: Sloping and rocky, Sydney Cove’s eastern point did not initially attract any European habitation. The first and one of the few dwellings built on the eastern side of Sydney Cove was Bennelong’s hut. Painting by Harriot Anley, courtesy State Library of NSW
2/211845: Sloping and rocky, Sydney Cove’s eastern point did not initially attract any European habitation. The first and one of the few dwellings built on the eastern side of Sydney Cove was Bennelong’s hut. Painting by Harriot Anley, courtesy State Library of NSW
1866: The development of East Circular Quay and Bennelong Point was tied to the wool trade and the growing trade in the colony. Picture: State Library of Victoria
3/211866: The development of East Circular Quay and Bennelong Point was tied to the wool trade and the growing trade in the colony. Picture: State Library of Victoria
1870: The wool boom years of the 1860s saw businessmen began to build wool stores, and other facilities, along the waterfront.
4/211870: The wool boom years of the 1860s saw businessmen began to build wool stores, and other facilities, along the waterfront.
Circular Quay,Sydney.1879.June 1996. /australia-history
5/21Circular Quay,Sydney.1879.June 1996. /australia-history
1898: Tram to Central Station at Circular Quay by Albert James Perier, courtesy of the State Library of NSW.
6/211898: Tram to Central Station at Circular Quay by Albert James Perier, courtesy of the State Library of NSW.
1900: Phillip St, Circular Quay. From the 1890s, ferry terminals came to dominate the harbour, and Circular Quay became the hub of the Sydney ferry network. Picture: Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum
7/211900: Phillip St, Circular Quay. From the 1890s, ferry terminals came to dominate the harbour, and Circular Quay became the hub of the Sydney ferry network. Picture: Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum
1900: Horse-drawn omnibus outside Customs House, the original maritime centre for the colony. Picture courtesy National Archives of Australia
8/211900: Horse-drawn omnibus outside Customs House, the original maritime centre for the colony. Picture courtesy National Archives of Australia
1900: The comings and goings of a city; men mill around the city’s major transport hub. Picture: Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum
9/211900: The comings and goings of a city; men mill around the city’s major transport hub. Picture: Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum
1900: Circular Quay was also a tram hub and regular services operated from Central station down Castlereagh St to Circular Quay and back up Pitt Street giving people easy access to ferries. Picture: Royal Australian Historical Society
10/211900: Circular Quay was also a tram hub and regular services operated from Central station down Castlereagh St to Circular Quay and back up Pitt Street giving people easy access to ferries. Picture: Royal Australian Historical Society
1920: Trams, hansom cabs and pedestrians fill the streets outside the quay. Picture: NSW State Archives
11/211920: Trams, hansom cabs and pedestrians fill the streets outside the quay. Picture: NSW State Archives
1938: The Manly Ferry Wharf at Circular Quay, taken by photographer Max Dupain.
12/211938: The Manly Ferry Wharf at Circular Quay, taken by photographer Max Dupain.
1938: Morning commuters, captured by master photographer Max Dupain.
13/211938: Morning commuters, captured by master photographer Max Dupain.
1939: Street view showing the Commissariat building, now the site of the MCA. Picture: NSW State Records
14/211939: Street view showing the Commissariat building, now the site of the MCA. Picture: NSW State Records
1940s: HMS Formidble berthed at Circular Quay. Picture: NSW State Records
15/211940s: HMS Formidble berthed at Circular Quay. Picture: NSW State Records
1940: A lone pedestrian walks the promenade. Picture: NSW State Archives
16/211940: A lone pedestrian walks the promenade. Picture: NSW State Archives
1950: Sheep housed in temporary pens aboard a cargo shipped docked at the quay. Picture: NSW State Records
17/211950: Sheep housed in temporary pens aboard a cargo shipped docked at the quay. Picture: NSW State Records
1956: The Circular Quay railway station was opened on 20 January 1956 and the elevated Cahill Expressway was officially opened on 24 March 1958. Picture courtesy of Railway Resource Centre in Redfern.
18/211956: The Circular Quay railway station was opened on 20 January 1956 and the elevated Cahill Expressway was officially opened on 24 March 1958. Picture courtesy of Railway Resource Centre in Redfern.
1961: A low rise Circular Quay seen from Harbour Bridge. Major redevelopment of East Circular Quay did not occur until the 1950s. Wool stores were demolished and replaced by a number of modernist commercial buildings lining the eastern side. The height limit was increased from 150 feet to 915 feet in 1959. Photograph: Max Dupain.
19/211961: A low rise Circular Quay seen from Harbour Bridge. Major redevelopment of East Circular Quay did not occur until the 1950s. Wool stores were demolished and replaced by a number of modernist commercial buildings lining the eastern side. The height limit was increased from 150 feet to 915 feet in 1959. Photograph: Max Dupain.
1970: Several of Sydney’s first skyscrapers were built around Circular Quay. The AMP Building on the southern shore was the tallest building Sydney when completed in 1962. In 1973 the Sydney Opera House was built at the northeastern end of Sydney Cove.
20/211970: Several of Sydney’s first skyscrapers were built around Circular Quay. The AMP Building on the southern shore was the tallest building Sydney when completed in 1962. In 1973 the Sydney Opera House was built at the northeastern end of Sydney Cove.
The Fire Water 2010 performance tells the story of Australia's earliest merchant Robert Campbell, at Campbells Cove, The Rocks in Sydney as part of 2010 Sydney Vivid Festival.
21/21The Fire Water 2010 performance tells the story of Australia's earliest merchant Robert Campbell, at Campbells Cove, The Rocks in Sydney as part of 2010 Sydney Vivid Festival.
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