Circular Quay, New South Wales

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. [ [http://www.gnb.nsw.gov.au/name_search/extract?id=KWYbwptLKW Geographical Names Board of New South Wales] ]

Circular Quay is made up of walkways, pedestrian malls, parks and restaurants. It hosts a number of ferry quays and a train station.

Transport

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.

Circular Quay was formerly a large tram terminus and interchange. As many Sydney bus routes follow the previous tram lines, the tram terminus has become a major bus terminus for many bus routes. [ [http://www.railpage.org.au/tram/sydhist.html Sydney's tram history] "http://railpage.org.au"]

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 (and is open to) 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.

Both the Metro Light Rail operator and the Sydney city council have lobbied for the single light rail line to be extended to Circular Quay through the Central Business District, however the State Government contends that this would benefit neither commuters, nor traffic conditions throughout the CBD. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bleak-outlook-for-sydney-roads/2006/03/25/1143084045591.html Think bigger on light rail, says transport expert] "Sydney Morning Herald", March 26, 2006]

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.

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.

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.

Circular Quay was originally known as "Semi-Circular Quay", this being the actual shape of the quay. The name was shortened for convenience. [http://www.sydneyports.com.au/Mediaroom/FirstPort/pdfs/Centenary%20book%20Chapter%201.pdf] 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 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.

Notes

External links

* [http://travel.duchs.com/Australia/Sydney/See/Circular_Quay/ Large image collection]