Barangaroo Point Reserve Opening Day

I was very excited, after all the times I've drawn/painted this site over the last two years, to  be able to be there on the opening day of the reserve last Saturday. I got there early to get in some sketching before the crowds arrived and the ceremony began.  The site has been inaccessible for about 100 years as it was an old industrial / wharf area and closed to the public. It has been redeveloped into a park with amazing views across the water, which has changed the face of Sydney Harbour (and no doubt the tourist companies' schedules  too!!)

It felt quite special to realise I'm the first person to paint that harbour scene from that lovely spot on those sandstone blocks that now enclose the park, with the bridge in the background.

The foreshore was created using 7600 sandstone blocks reclaimed from the site, each numbered and placed in their exact position. The geometry of the way these  large  blocks have been laid is beautiful, as are the many colours to be found in them, some of which I tried to capture in my drawing. This view looks through to the Anzac Bridge in the background.

The old harbour control tower can be seen looming over the park from many viewpoints, asserting quite a presence. It was built after two ships collided near Millers Point in 1972. Some have called it "Sydney’s concrete mushroom", and sadly it has now been consigned to demolition, because they say it isn’t in keeping with the natural environment feel of the reserve. But I love it and the way it keeps its eye on the harbour and will be very sad to see it go!

This view was from the Burrawang Steps across the Stargazer Lawn, with the Harbour Bridge in the background. 

 Later in the morning a passerby told me there was someone else drawing around the corner, so sure enough, I found Lionel, another of our Sydney USK gang, drawing this tower from Wulugul Walk!

It was great to be part of the opening of this special place and I'm sure it will be enjoyed by Sydneysiders and visitors to our wonderful city alike!

Sydney old and new

Three drawings from the past two days in Sydney - on the way to and from work.

Firstly, the old architecture of the GPO in Martin PLace in Sydney - a neo-classical sandstone facade, with a colonnade running around the building at street




Second is on the bus from Bondi to the City. The surfer with the hoodie was in front of me . I had to draw him !


And finally all the cranes in the building site opposite my work. There is always something happening in Sydney !!!

more cranes in Sydney

Today when I walked past the building site afterwork, all the cranes were moving . The engines were going, the pulleys were moving and the place seemed alive !

Sydney building site: Alissa Duke

Barangaroo near Darling Harbour in Sydney city is a big building site at the moment. But you can walk down along the wharf and see what is happening. I am also fortunate that the building I work in overlooks the site. I want to come into work one weekend and draw the cranes and trucks from above. They look like Tonka Toys.