A stunning new light event celebrating 200 years since the arrival of Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie, Macquarie Visions will transform landmarks such as St Mary’s Cathedral, Parliament House and Sydney Conservatorium of Music in a nightly storytelling journey along the length of Macquarie Street from 27 May – 20 June 2010.

Electric Canvas, an Australian company renowned for its expertise in large-scale projection, will use breathtaking projections and moving light images to illuminate the many legacies and achievements of Macquarie’s 12-year tenure as Governor of NSW.

“Lachlan Macquarie played a vital role in building the foundation stones of what has become Australia,” said Anthony Bastic, Executive Producer, Macquarie Visions.

“Together with his wife Elizabeth, he instigated hundreds of ground breaking public works programs and championed the importance of agriculture, education and a fair go for all, and Macquarie Visions will celebrate their story in an engaging and technologically exciting way.”

Lighting up Macquarie Street every night from 6pm to midnight, Macquarie Visions will start with a dazzling light spectacle at St Mary’s Cathedral, a building at which Macquarie himself laid the foundation stone.

Taking approximately one hour, the free public walk will also cast new light on other Macquarie era buildings such as Hyde Park Barracks, the Mint and the State Library of New South Wales as well as on the street and structures that lead to the Sydney Opera House, with the stunning illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails and buildings at Circular Quay completing the amazing Vivid Sydney light show experience.

Vivid Sydney (27 May – 21 June) is the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of our creative industries. The program features Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Visions, The Rocks Fire Water, Creative Sydney, X Media Lab Global Media Ideas and Song Summit. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

This evening, Premier Kristina Keneally will preview the lighting of the blue arch – representing Macquarie’s Scottish origins. It also coincides with the first game of the State of Origin series.

The Macquarie Arch symbolises one of Governor Macquarie’s greatest achievements – the building of the road over the Blue Mountains – and is a special feature of Macquarie Visions, a part of Vivid Sydney.

The arch crosses Macquarie Street at the southern end, adjacent to the Hyde Park Barracks Museum and will be lit up each night from 6pm to midnight during the Vivid Sydney festival (27 May – 20 June).

“Macquarie Visions is a stunning celebration of Governor Macquarie’s achievements,” Ms Keneally said.

“Lachlan Macquarie is remembered as one of the most visionary leaders in NSW and he played a leading role in shaping the state of NSW.

“There is no better way to celebrate Governor Macquarie’s contribution to NSW than to get behind our State team in the NRL State of Origin series on home turf – go the Blues!”

Macquarie Visions will also light up iconic landmarks including St Mary’s Cathedral, NSW Parliament House, Hyde Park Barracks Museum, The Mint, The State Library, The Royal Botanic Garden’s Palace Garden Gate and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

“The free public event will tell the stories of Governor Macquarie through innovative sound and light displays, projections and installations across some of Sydney’s historic Macquarie Street buildings.”

The arch was designed by Sydney architect Joe Snell and the stone plinths were processed under the guidance of NSW Senior Stone Mason Paul Thurloe. The arch was constructed and gifted by The Downer Group.

“The light display on the arch represents the major road projects Governor Macquarie commissioned in the colony to the new settlements he proclaimed,” Ms Keneally said.

“The sandstone used for the ends of the plinths where the arches rest is the same stone which is used to construct Sydney’s prestige historical buildings.”

The plinths identify the towns Governor Macquarie planned, including Liverpool, District of Airds, Castlereagh, Pitt Town, Richmond, Wilberforce, Windsor, Bathurst, Campbelltown and Port Macquarie.

Macquarie Visions will bring landmarks such as St Mary’s Cathedral, Parliament House and the Mint to life after dark through immersive light displays, as part of a free, family friendly, nightly storytelling journey along the length of Macquarie Street from 27 May – 20 June 2010 – part of the Vivid Sydney annual festival of light, music and ideas.

One of Australia’s most celebrated broadcasters, Alan Jones will serve as Ambassador for ‘Fair Go’, a theme explored throughout the dramatic light displays that tell the story of Governor Macquarie’s emancipation practices which offered convicts freedom and a second chance at life.

“The Australian tradition of a second chance or a ‘fair go’ for all, which is still alive and well today, can be traced back to Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie and I’m delighted to be associated with an event that honours their lives and this great Australian tradition as one of their legacies,” Alan said.

Joining Mr Jones as Ambassadors for Macquarie Visions are prominent businesswoman Ann Sherry and internationally recognised gardener and landscape designer Myles Baldwin.

Currently CEO of Carnival Australia, Ann is a former CEO of Westpac New Zealand and the Bank of Melbourne, and was First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in Canberra, where she advised the Prime Minister on policies and programs to improve the status of women in Australia. She also represented Australia at the United Nations forums on human rights and women’s rights.

She will represent the Bicentenary celebrations by elaborating on Governor Macquarie’s role in introducing coinage to Australia and establishing the colony’s first bank, the Bank of New South Wales – later to be Westpac as well as exploring the significant role of Elizabeth Macquarie and the substantial role and status of women in the Macquarie era.

“Not only do I have great admiration for the early accomplishments of Governor Macquarie, I also have an interesting connection to the man himself as the Bank of New South Wales, which he founded in 1817, and would later evolve into Westpac,” Ann Sherry said.

A leading member of a new generation of groundbreaking landscape designers, Myles Baldwin has contributed the design for the ‘Giving Gardens’ installation at the Palace Garden Gate entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens, a location where he began his career as an apprentice.

The Royal Botanic Gardens was also one of Elizabeth Macquarie’s most cherished oases in Sydney and ‘Giving Gardens’ will quite literally bring to life her passion for all things botanical with an inventive display featuring growing plants and exquisite light projections.

“Mrs Macquarie loved landscapes and gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens, which owes much of its efficiency to her patronage, is an ideal backdrop for what will be one of the more intimate light showcases of Macquarie Visions,” Mr Baldwin said.

Vivid Sydney (27 May – 21 June) is the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of our creative industries. The program features Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Visions, The Rocks Fire Water, Creative Sydney, X Media Lab Global Media Ideas and Song Summit. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

The rarely-played instrument, which has been specially restored for the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary, will be heard alongside a mix of evocative sounds in the ‘Pastimes’ soundscape by up and coming sound engineer, producer and performer Jonathan Palmer.

In addition to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Visions will light up landmarks such as St Mary’s Cathedral, Parliament House and the State Library of NSW in a nightly storytelling journey along the length of Macquarie Street from 27 May – 20 June 2010, as part of the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas.

The ‘Pastimes’ installation will bring to life the heady days of the early horse races and reflect on the broader cultural life that the Macquaries’ introduced to the colony including music, art and poetry.

Mr Palmer said the soundscape would interweave elements of composer Peter Sculthorpe’s ‘Remembering Mrs Macquarie’, a special performance piece that made use of the 200-year-old cello now owned by the Museum of Sydney, with natural and emotive sounds captured at locations across Sydney.

“I’m interested in finding sounds that would have existed in the Macquaries’ time. The piece is not just about art, culture and leisure activities, but also the memories and emotions that these things evoke,” Mr Palmer said.

Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie helped create a social life for Sydney, instigating annual fairs and hosting balls, establishing workers public holidays for commemoration, appointing the first Poet Laureate (Laureate Michael), founding parks and gardens, and even introducing horse racing in what is now Hyde Park in 1810.

The Macquaries were also passionate about horses and commissioned convict architect Francis Greenway to design the extravagant stables for Government House, a neo-gothic style building that would eventually become the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Dean and Principal, Professor Kim Walker said the Conservatorium looked forward to welcoming people of all ages each night from 6pm to midnight during Macquarie Visions.

“The Conservatorium has fascinating historic links with Governor Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth and Macquarie Visions is a wonderful opportunity to not only commemorate these links, but also celebrate the central role that the Macquaries played in establishing a social and cultural life for Sydney at all levels of society,” Professor Walker said.

Vivid Sydney (27 May – 21 June) is the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of creative industries. The program features Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Visions, The Rocks Fire Water, Creative Sydney, X Media Lab Global Media Ideas and Song Summit. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

2010 marks the 200th anniversary of Lachlan Macquarie’s appointment as fifth Governor of New South Wales.

Mr Baldwin’s creation will form the centrepiece of ‘Giving Gardens’, a grouping of growing plants and exquisite light projections at the Palace Garden Gates.

As well as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie Visions will light up landmarks such as St Mary’s Cathedral, Parliament House and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in a free, nightly storytelling journey along the length of Macquarie Street from 27 May – 20 June 2010, as part of the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas.

Mr Baldwin said the installation would grow and evolve throughout the festival to quite literally bring to life Elizabeth Macquarie’s love for landscapes and gardening.

“Mrs Macquarie, like me, had a passion for all things botanical and the Royal Botanic Gardens, which was one of her most cherished oases, seems a fitting backdrop for a living, breathing tribute to her remarkable legacy,” he said.

The Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs Macquarie’s Road were planned and developed under the direction of Elizabeth Macquarie. With the help of Elizabeth Macarthur, she also pioneered hay-making in the colony and designed farms and gardens.

“Elizabeth liked to share her passions too and is said to have carried and distributed iris bulbs to settlers on her tours throughout the colony, some of which are growing still today,” Mr Baldwin said.

The head gardener at Sydney’s Bronte House since 2000, Mr Baldwin boasts an impressive talent for creating gardens for period residences.

He began his career as an apprentice at the Royal Botanic Gardens and has since designed gardens in Australia, USA and the UK, including the much-lauded redesign of Boomerang at Elizabeth Bay.

“Myles is a leading member of a new generation of groundbreaking landscape designers and we are delighted that he’s been able to set aside time in his busy schedule to play a creative role in the dazzling light spectacle of Macquarie Visions,” said Anthony Bastic, Executive Producer, Macquarie Visions.

In addition to contributing to the design of ‘Giving Gardens’, Mr Baldwin will also serve as an Ambassador to Macquarie Visions along with radio personality Alan Jones AO and prominent businesswomen Ann Sherry AO.

Vivid Sydney (27 May – 21 June) is the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of creative industries. The program features Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Visions, The Rocks Fire Water, Creative Sydney, X Media Lab Global Media Ideas and Song Summit. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

Celebrating 200 years since Lachlan Macquarie’s 11-year tenure as Governor of NSW, The Electric Canvas will transform landmarks such as the State Library of NSW, NSW Parliament House and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music into an exciting light promenade along the length of Macquarie Street, nightly from 27 May to 20 June.

The Electric Canvas was the first Australian company to utilise French PIGI systems to project scrolling colour and imagery onto structures and buildings back in 1997. Since then, the company has expanded to digital projection and used its innovative technologies to transform the Sydney Olympic stadium in the 2000 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic ceremonies, along with many other large scale projects in Australia and internationally.

Locally, the team has been responsible for illuminating the sails of the Sydney Opera House with the vibrant works of artist Brian Eno during Vivid Sydney in 2009, bringing the National Gallery of Australia to life in a sea of colour for its 25th birthday and the annual tradition of lighting Sydney’s Town Hall every December.

Macquarie Visions provides The Electric Canvas with an opportunity to reveal new light projection technologies to an Australian audience, through large-scale projections that will move and evolve as they delve into intriguing stories from Australia’s rich past.

Just one of the exciting treatments will be a projection onto the facade of St Mary’s Cathedral – lighting the whole cathedral’s south face in a visually arresting and colourful moving projection, showcasing the more than 260 nation-founding projects established by Macquarie during his time as Governor 200 years ago. For more information on The Electric Canvas visit: www.theelectriccanvas.com.au

Vivid Sydney is the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of our creative industries. The program features Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Visions, The Rocks Fire Water, Creative Sydney, X Media Lab Global Media Ideas and Song Summit. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

Answers to these questions and many more stories of our interesting history come to life this winter with Macquarie Visions, a free family friendly event featuring spectacular lighting installations telling the story, on the 200th anniversary, of visionary leaders, Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie.

From Thursday 27 May – Sunday 20 June, Macquarie Street in Sydney’s CBD will come to life after dark with colourful and electrifying light projections the whole family can enjoy as part of the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas, including the spectacular lighting of the Sydney Opera House Sails.

“Children of all ages will be amazed by the spectacular effects and new technology that will retell the story of Governor Macquarie and his legacy to Australia. Few people know that Macquarie laid the foundation stone for St Mary’s Cathedral in 1821 for example, but the whole family will be fascinated by the light show on the church facade where stones will literally appear to rise out of the ground into the dark night sky,” said Anthony Bastic, Executive Producer, Macquarie Visions.

“Governor Macquarie undertook over 250 visionary projects in his tenure, instigating ground- breaking public works programs and championing the importance of agriculture, education, justice and cultural development. In bringing the story of his outstanding legacy to life, we have used the best quality projectors, special effects and immersive light designs to create an exciting historical and contemporary journey.”

Children will also be entertained along the light path with a special “Macquarie Visions Quiz”, which can be picked up from the Vivid Sydney Information Tents. With questions like “who was George Street named after?” or “what kind of sporting race was first held in Hyde Park?” families can win prizes by unlocking the clues at the various Macquarie Visions venues.

Lighting up Macquarie Street every night from 6pm to midnight, the free Macquarie Visions light path takes approximately one hour to complete and is best viewed starting at St Mary’s Cathedral on College Street. Following the road along past Hyde Park Barracks Museum, the Mint, Parliament House, the State Library of New South Wales and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie Visions culminates with a festive illumination at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Then the family can continue on down to the Lighting of the Sails at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney (27 May-21 June).

Vivid Sydney is the largest light and music festival in the Southern Hemisphere and a major celebration of our creative industries. The program features Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House, Macquarie Visions, The Rocks Fire Water, Creative Sydney, X Media Lab Global Media Ideas and Song Summit. Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

• What: MACQUARIE VISIONS
• When: 6pm – Midnight from 27 May to 20 June 2010
• Where: Macquarie Street, Sydney
• Cost: FREE
• Website: www.macquarievisions.com.au (live from late April) and for the full Vivid Sydney program visit www.vividsydney.com

Other info:

While some food and beverage outlets will be open along Macquarie Street, it is recommended you bring your own food and water, wear comfortable footwear and warm clothing. For further information on amenities, public toilets and transport download the Macquarie Visions Event Guide at www.macquarievisions.com.au

Plan ahead and use public transport. For further information call 131500 or visit www.131500.com.au

Road closures may be in place for the event. For further information call 132 701 or visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au

Macquarie Visions acknowledges our principal partner the NSW Government; partners Events NSW, City of Sydney and The Electric Canvas; major sponsors Downer and The Sydney Morning Herald, and sponsors EnergyAustralia, NSW Public Works and the State Library of New South Wales.

Macquarie Visions is produced by AGB Events and Avviso with special thanks to the State Library of NSW, Fairfax Photo Library, the Benevolent Society, the State Records Authority of NSW, the Reserve Bank of Australia, Royal Botanic Gardens Library Sydney, Historic Houses Trust and Westpac Historical Services.

Macquarie Visions will transform landmarks such as St Mary’s Cathedral, Parliament House and the Conservatorium of Music, in a way not seen in Sydney before, with a family friendly night promenade along the length of Macquarie Street from 27 May 2010.

Celebrating the legacy of Macquarie’s 12-year tenure as Governor of NSW, the event is part of the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas.

Chair of the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations Committee, The Honourable John Aquilina MP, said Macquarie Visions would cast new light onto Sydney’s ceremonial street, through a truly immersive series of displays that will deliver storytelling in light, interaction and sound, and with technology and techniques not experienced in Sydney before.

“Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie made an unparalleled contribution to the growth of our great state and our nation, instigating hundreds of ground-breaking public works programs and championing the importance of agriculture, education, justice and benevolence,” Mr Aquilina said.

“Australia’s tradition of a second chance and a ‘fair go’ originated from Governor Macquarie’s emancipation practices and this theme and others will be brought to life in a contemporary context with the innovative and dramatic lighting displays of Macquarie Visions.”

Lighting up Macquarie Street every night from 6pm to midnight, Macquarie Visions will start with a dazzling light spectacle at St Mary’s Cathedral. Stones of the cathedral will appear to literally rise out of the ground and stunning projections will create a light show reflecting on Macquarie’s vast building program.

Taking approximately one hour, the free public walk will be a storytelling journey using iconic Macquarie era buildings as the backdrop. Displays will feature at Hyde Park Barracks, The Mint, Parliament House, the Mitchell Library and Sydney Conservatorium of Music as well as on the street and structures that lead to the Sydney Opera House, with the stunning illumination of the sails, completing this amazing Vivid Sydney light show experience.

Macquarie Visions promises to entertain and engage people of every generation with light, sound and digital displays, and will see families strolling along Macquarie Street each night as part of the celebrations for Vivid Sydney.

Vivid Sydney is one of five anchor events in the NSW Master Events Calendar developed by the NSW Government through Events NSW.

Macquarie Visions is presented by the NSW Government in co-operation with event and exhibition partners.

• What: MACQUARIE VISIONS
• When: 6pm – Midnight from 27 May to 20 June 2010
• Where: Macquarie Street, Sydney
• Cost: FREE
• Website: www.macquarievisions.com.au (live from late April) and for the full Vivid Sydney program visit www.vividsydney.com