Sydney kai ta ellinika

Pics from my Sydney trip in late March.




Martin Place in central Sydney has the most prestigious shops and expensive real estate in the city.











Occupying arguably the most primo position in Sydney's CBD on the corner of George St and Martin Place is [URL="http://www.odyssey.gr/article.asp?entryid=1541&pagecode=02"]Paspaley Pearl's[/URL] Sydney store. The Paspaley family along with the Kailis' in Westen Australia dominate the world pearling industry.



I'm not into jewellery, but I do love classical interiors and the Paspaley showroom is quite a sight. I was only able to take one photo b4 security told me to refrain.



The Rocks is the most historic area in Sydney with lots of shops, galleries and places to eat. It is similar to the Plaka in many ways.





Costis seafood restaurant on the corner.





Charles Billich is a famous Australian artist based in the Rocks.





Spot the Athenian landmark. This painting by Billich is worth $150 000.



Circular Quay beside the Rocks is where you catch ferries to destinations around the harbour and beyond.



















The Queen Victoria Building is a huge late nineteenth century shopping centre, modelled on a Byzantine palace.









Into the Royal Botanic Gardens





Look familiar?









Hyde Park featues a classically inspired fountain. Apollo stands a-top, while Artemis and Theseus the vanquisher of the Minotaur can also be seen.





Facing Hyde Park on Elizabeth St is the squeezed in 1950's building of the Hellenic Club. Plans have been submitted for [URL="http://www.helleniccentre.com.au/"]redevelopment[/URL], but a lady I spoke to there said that construction is still a while away because of various reasons. It occupies a prime site in Sydney, stretching back in an L-shape to the street behind it, and has enormous potential. The master plan is to turn it into the Hellenic Centre of Australia.





While I was in Sydney I was fortunate enough to catch the Greek Festival at Darling harbour.









World Tower by Melbourne based architectural firm, Fender Katsalidis









The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia's cathedral is in a former Anglican church from the 1840's. The complex includes a theological college and other related buildings.







Marrickville is the old inner-city suburb that many Greeks settled in during the 1950's.

From wikipedia, which I'd agree with.

Marrickville has a diverse and multi-cultural community with a significant migrant population.

In the mid-twentieth century, Marrickville was a major center of Sydney's large Greek community, and to an extent remains so. Greek flags are frequently flown down Marrickville's main commercial street, which still has many Greek-owned businesses. Today, the Vietnamese community has become perhaps more prominent, centered in the area closer to the railway station.

In recent years the area has seen an influx of young, urban professionals attracted to its proximity to the Sydney CBD, vast array of restaurants and inner-city, multicultural lifestyle. Soaring prices in more affluent areas such as the Eastern Suburbs have also driven people into the inner-west in search of more affordable housing

Click to expand...

Main street



'Arty' Marrickville





Sidewalk mosaic



Small 'square' called the Greek forum



Cafe on square, formerly post office.





New apartments going up in the area



Many Greek-Australians have moved to not too distant Earlwood, which has bigger houses and better views (hillier) than Marrickville. Although Greeks are spread right throughout Sydney's metropolitan area, depending on socio-economic background, Earlwood by percentage has the largest concentration of Greeks in suburban Sydney.







Booming industry as many Greek (and others) post-war migrants reach their final days.



Typical Earlwood homes





Newtown is a gritty inner-city area with a distinct bohemian character. This area was once also populated by Greeks and still has the Greek Welfare Centre. A relative in Sydney told me that the clergy and staff at this church do valuable social work for many of the area's down and out, including junkies, no matter what background.





I felt a strong sense of spiritualty in this small church for some reason, more so than others I've been to.



Around Newtown





















Finally, some more pics of Sydney