Not many regular (& not so regular) Homebake visitors may realise that THE DOMAIN is one of Sydney's most prominent historical parks - as well as a central iconic landmark. Homebake is extremely privileged (& honoured) to be taking place at The Domain, and for this reason we thought we would let everyone know about the fascinating history of this stunning park. We managed to get some facts and figures together and think you should check out the following so that when you're finally at at The Domain for Homebake 2001, you can stand in your spot and imagine what happened in that very place in days gone by!
The Governor's Domain
The Sydney Domain was set aside in 1788 by Governor Phillip as his private reserve. It covered the area east of the Tank Stream to the head of Woolloomooloo (Walla Mulla) Bay 
and contains the site of the first farm in Australia. The farm had been established for growing grain, but was soon moved to Parramatta, because of the poor sandy soil. The Farm Cove (Woccanmagully) area was then leased out for private farming for the next twenty years. Governor Bligh attempted to reclaim the Domain c. 1808, leading up to the Rum Rebellion. Governor Macquarie completed this task, extending the roads and gardens started by Bligh, and enclosing the Government Domain with stone walls and paling fences. The traditional foundation date of the Botanic Gardens is taken as the date of completion of Mrs Macquarie's Road, on 13 June 1816.
An enlarged and reorganised
Gardens were opened to the general public in 1831. Over the years the Gardens grew as the Domain was slowly whittled away, but remained an important buffer to the Gardens. The native vegetation was cleared and the gullies of Phillip Precinct filled. 
During the 1830s the expansive green space of the Domain was now opened to the public, who strolled and picnicked there. The Domain west of Macquarie Street was then sold to pay for the construction of new Government House and Circular Quay. In the 1850s the Domain was used for military, sporting, and ceremonial events, an was subsequently used for soap-box oratory and political meetings. From 1860 the Domain was opened up at night to pedestrians, allowing people to use this valuable recreational space on summer evenings. It became known as 'The Park where the Gates Never Close'. Carriage traffic however remained restricted after dusk for many years.
The growing city of Sydney put great pressure on the Domain. A major encroachment was the construction of the Garden Palace for the International Exhibition of 1879. In more recent years the problems have come from the motor car, with the building of the Cahill Expressway and the Domain Parking Station. The Cahill Expressway destroyed the close spatial relationship between the Gardens and Domain. It has now been proposed to reclaim the green link between the Art Gallery and Woolloomooloo Bay (as part of the revised design for the Eastern Distributor).
Thus, what was once the governor's private park, the Domain has now become a public landmark. During December and January, many people come to see the festivals and events that are held here during the summer. Other than HOMEBAKE, there are other popular events including Carols by Candlelight in December and the Symphony Under the Stars in January. Supporting an ongoing tradition, many visitors come with picnic baskets in hand to enjoy these particular events. In addition, the Domain has also been a popular gathering place for public rallies, such as the post-conscription rally during war in 1916, and student protests who voiced their disconcern with educational funding five years ago.
The Domain is administered by the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. It is vital we preserve what remains of the Domain as a green haven in our city.
Getting ThereBus: Sydney Bus, nearest bus
stop is Art Gallery Road, Route 888 |
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