Locations
Macquarie Visions casts a new light onto Sydney’s ceremonial street, celebrating in stunning and immersive light displays, the 200th anniversary and story of two great visionary leaders, Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth.
The Macquaries’ innovations are revealed with illuminating, theatrical and contemporary light displays in a family friendly free night promenade along the length of the Macquarie Street linking St Mary’s Cathedral to the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay as part of Vivid Sydney 2010.
1. Designing the Nation
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Start the Macquarie Visions journey with this dynamic 10 minute light show revealing the work of the Macquaries to literally create the building blocks of modern Australia.
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2. Fair Go
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A timeline of achievements will illuminate viewers to the many achievements of the Macquaries’ from 1810 to 1821 and explore our contemporary society evolved from their vision.
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3. Common Wealth
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A stunning light show of images showcases the great wealth Australia shares with all its people. The story starts with the creation of our monetary and bank system under Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
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4. Advance Australia
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Hear from some special Australians in this projection describing visionary and influential projects that have advanced our nation on the world stage.
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5. Words on the Street
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Words directly from the Macquarie era 200 years ago will be broadcast appropriately on the façade of the State Library of New South Wales, which houses the many journals, letters and writings from Australia’s history.
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6. Giving Gardens
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The Royal Botanic Gardens were developed by Elizabeth Macquarie. This celebratory installation of living plants also reflects with a market garden on the role of Farm Cove in providing a kitchen garden for the Governor’s residence.
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7. Pastimes
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Much as Sydneysiders spend their pastimes today at sport and racing events, on the harbour, enjoying holidays like Australia Day and experiencing fine arts, festivals and culture – the Macquaries’ introduced all these important aspects of life to Sydney from 1810.
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Macquarie Visions Special Features
The Downer Macquarie Arch
The arch symbolises perhaps the greatest of Macquarie’s achievements in visioning the future of Australia, representing Macquarie’s road over the Blue Mountains. Macquarie saw the road as one of his most important projects to improve the viability of Australia to develop commerce, trade and civilisation. The multiple conduits reference the roads to the towns proclaimed by Macquarie, and which are named on the Arch plinths, including Liverpool, Richmond, Windsor, Campbelltown, Bathurst and Port Macquarie.
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EnergyAustralia Macquarie Lighthouses
Governor Macquarie commissioned Australia’s first lighthouse at South Head to guide the ships to his fledgling colony and the emerging trading town of Sydney. The 2010 Macquarie Visions lighthouses are powered by EnergyAustralia to provide a guide to your Vivid Sydney experience, see them along the route.
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Hyde Park Macquarie Lights
Governor Macquarie designated Hyde Park in October 1810 as a sports and recreational ground for Sydney and as the first horse racing track. The City of Sydney lights the northern walkway canopy as part of Macquarie Visions to also celebrate this great park’s 200th Anniversary.
