St. Mary’s Cathedral

Designing the Nation

The Macquarie Visions experience will begin with a dazzling light spectacle at St Mary’s Cathedral, a building for which Lachlan Macquarie himself laid the foundation stone in 1821.

Macquarie was the first military Governor of NSW and unlike his predecessors, who were all naval men, he had experience in urban planning and land management. Indeed Mrs Macquarie arrived with architectural and design journals that indicated her interest and subsequent influence on much of the urban design in the colony. In his 11-year tenure as Governor, Macquarie instigated hundreds of major building projects leading to the foundation of churches, schools, hospitals, roads, towns, banks and agricultural developments.

As images of the twinkling night sky turn to the flames of candles, bonfires and skyrockets that greeted the Macquaries on their arrival into Sydney town on January 1, 1810, the Cathedral facade starts its story.

In the evening the town was very finely illuminated with a number of bonfires – The King’s ships were also beautifully illuminated and then a great number of sky rockets.

01 January 1810 – Lachlan Macquarie becomes the 5th Governor of New South Wales.

At this display you will see the very foundation stones of much of Sydney town reflected, the designation of streets, parks and gardens, the design of the cultural, architectural and town planning landscape, the engagement of the aboriginal inhabitants, the second chance given to convicts, the laying of the foundation stone for the cathedral and the civilising designs for a new nation that emerges from Macquarie’s vision.

Viewed from Cathedral Square, this nightly spectacle titled Designing the Nation promises to entertain and amaze audiences and provide a truly impressive starting point to undertake the journey that is Macquarie Visions.

And not to be missed on the final night of Macquarie Visions, June 20, there will be a special tribute for Governor Macquarie at the Cathedral display.

Venue Information

www.sydney.catholic.org.au

Bodhi Vegetarian Yum Cha – Bodhi will be offering their full menu and will also include specials for the event. Details – Open for lunch and dinner 7 nights a week. Ph 02 9360 2523 Cook & Phillip Park Leisure Complex, 2-4 College Street. Licensed and BYO.