Beneath some shady Moreton Bay fig trees is this historic triangle. Look for the cannon and anchor from the First Fleet flagship (HMS Sirius), an ornate but defunct 1857 drinking fountain, a National Trust–classified gentlemen's pissoir (closed and plant-filled) and an 1818 obelisk recording that 'all the public roads leading to the interior of the colony are measured from it’.

The park is overlooked by the imposing 19th-century Lands Department Building; the north facade bears statues of explorers Sturt, Hume and Leichhardt, and other early Australian movers and shakers.

Transportation

  • train: Circular Quay

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Customs House

0.09 MILES

This elegant harbourside edifice (1885) has a democratic feel to it. It houses tourist information, a library, bars and restaurant options, including Cafe…

2. Museum of Sydney

0.09 MILES

Built on the site of Sydney’s first Government House, the MoS is a fragmented, storytelling museum, which uses installations to explore the city’s history…

3. Customs House Library

0.1 MILES

The elegant 1885 Customs House houses this three-level library. There's a great selection of international newspapers and magazines, internet access and…

4. Governors Phillip & Macquarie Towers

0.1 MILES

Clad in steel, granite and glass, Governor Phillip Tower (1993) is one of Sydney's tallest buildings (254m including antennae). Its distinctive metallic…

5. Tank Stream Fountain

0.14 MILES

Designed by Stephen Walker, this four-part bronze fountain (1981) near Circular Quay incorporates dozens of sculptures of native Australian animals; play…

6. Justice & Police Museum

0.15 MILES

In a sandstone building that once headquartered the Water Police, this atmospheric museum plunges you straight into Sydney noir. An assemblage of black…

7. Australia Square

0.17 MILES

Generally acknowledged as Australia’s first major office tower, Australia Square (1968) was designed by archi-phenomenon Harry Seidler. His 50-storey…

8. Museum of Contemporary Art

0.23 MILES

The MCA is a showcase for Australian and international contemporary art, with a rotating permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Aboriginal art…

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