About Circular Quay :

Circular Quay is the "heart of Sydney." Both locals and tourists alike delight in the comfortable and well-maintained space that the Quay provides. Tourists and families are attracted by the buskers, spectacular views, and details such as the Writers' Walk - a pathway from the Quay to the Opera House tiled with plaques commemorating Australian writers (including Peter Carey, Miles Franklin, and Germaine Greer) and those who focused on Australia (Charles Darwin, Joseph Conrad, Mark Twain).

History :

Sydney Cove was the site of the initial landing of the First Fleet in Port Jackson. Circular Quay was originally mainly used for shipping and slowly developed into a transport, leisure and recreational centre. The Circular Quay railway station was opened on the 20th January 1956 and the elevated Cahill Expressway was opened on the 14th March 1958. Circular Quay was originally known as "Semi-Circular Quay", this being the actual shape of the quay. The name was shortened for convenience. Circular Quay gradually built up at the side of Sydney Cove, the 1788 landing-place of the British convict ships which brought Sydney's original citizens.

Location :

 

 

Circular Quay is a locality in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the northern edge of the Sydney central business district on Sydney Cove, between Bennelong Point and The Rocks. It is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.

Circular Quay is made up of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants.

Transport :

 

It hosts a number of ferry quays. Sydney Ferry Sirius at Circular Quay The Cahill Expressway and railway station. Circular Quay circa 1900 Circular Quay is a major Sydney transport hub, with a large ferry, rail and bus interchange. The Cahill Expressway is a prominent feature of the quay, running from the east, over the elevated railway station to join the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the west.

Tram terminal: Circular Quay was the focal terminal point of most electric tram services to the eastern suburbs, then as now allowing easy transfer to ferries. For many years, 27 regular services operated from Circular Quay.

The railway station is the only station on the City Circle that is above ground. Additionally it is said to offer the best views of any CityRail railway station, as the platform looks out over the ferry terminus.The wharf complex hosts five commuter ferry wharves and is the terminus for all public ferry routes in Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River.

Culture : Circular Quay is a focal point for community celebrations, due to its central Sydney location between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is one of the main congregation points for the New Year's Eve and Australia Day fireworks displays.

Museum :

Circular Quay is also the home of Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art and the City of Sydney Library in the heritage-listed Customs House.

Cafes & Restaurants :

Small cafes and restaurants serve light lunches to office workers, who also make use of the benches and walls situated along the Quay. Circular Quay is the "hard edge" along the water - essentially, it is a public space connecting transit, pedestrian and civic elements. Framing the Quay are Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, among the most popular and internationally known images of the city and the country. The Quay is a perennial site for civic celebrations.

Web : http://www.sydney.com.au/quay.htm