After more than a decade in the making, Sydney is unveiling a cultural attraction as epic as the Opera House that is sure to become a must-see for all visitors to Australia.
In fact, the importance of the Sydney Modern Project to the country’s tourism industry has been compared to when the late Queen Elizabeth opened the iconic Opera House in 1973, one of the most emblematic buildings in the world, which today attracts up to 11 million visitors. a year
The Sydney Modern Project is a £192million 183,000 sq ft extension to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and opens on Saturdays, virtually doubling the already impressive exhibition space with large glass pavilions to offer visitors stunning views of Sydney Harbour.
And as the city opens up from the chaos caused by Covid, brilliant new hotels and restaurants are making an impression. Starting in February, prepare to fight for a table at Petermen on the Lower North Shore, run by award-winning local seafood chef Josh Niland. Important places to stay include the Oxford House boutique hotel in Paddington and the Porter House Hotel in the be Central business district. And by spring, Capella Sydney will open alongside the company’s signature Brasserie 1930 restaurant and Auriga Spa in the Department of Education’s iconic landmark.
The Sydney Modern Project is an 18,000 sq ft extension to the Art Gallery of New South Wales (artist rendering above). Claudia Joseph got a vernissage – and took my breath away
I checked into the boutique hotel A by Adina, where my suite had a spectacular view of the central business district. It’s also home to Sydney’s newest cocktail bar, Dean & Nancy, inspired by the swinging bars of the 1950s.
This excitement precedes an expected influx of tourists when Sydney hosts two major international events. On February 24, Australian singer Kylie Minogue will open the 17-day WorldPride event, which will take place for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as the Women’s World Cup in July. The tournament is the country’s biggest sporting event since the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
But back at the Sydney Modern Project, I’m lucky enough to get a private viewing, and as I walk down the wide spiral staircase, I catch my breath at the massive WWII naval oil tank, now converted into a modern art pavilion. Miranda Carroll, the UK’s director of public engagement, tells me: “It will be similar to the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern – an industrial site for large works.”
Claudia says the Sydney Modern Project will be ‘as epic as the opera house’ (pictured)
Claudia stayed at the A By Adina Hotel, where her suite had spectacular views of Sydney’s central business district.
Two other galleries in the Sydney Modern Project include a large white cube space for large touring exhibitions and a space for collection exhibitions. One of the showpieces will be a giant 20 x 5 meter canvas overlooking the central atrium featuring a moving image by artist Lisa Reihana, a New Zealand Maori who has exhibited at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Arts has.
Gallery Director Dr. Michael Brand says: “Important cultural developments such as the Sydney Modern Project strengthen the global perception of cities, states and nations. Our transformed art house will offer visitors exceptional experiences only possible in Sydney.”
With a thriving cultural scene, an abundance of museums and galleries, and great new places to book and eat, a vacation Down Under is definitely worth the long trip.
FROM MAD MAX TO SPORTS HEROES, AUSTRALIA’S TOP ATTRACTIONS
If you’re exploring Australia and looking for an experience with a touch of education, here are my must-sees…
The power station Ultimo, Sydney
Housed in a former electric tram stop, this museum focuses on technology, science and innovation. When you enter you are greeted by the Whitbread Engine, the oldest working rotary steam engine in the world. Designed by Scottish engineer James Watt, it was installed at London’s Whitbread Brewery in 1785 and remained there for 102 years before being restored for the museum’s opening in its current location in 1988 (maas.museum).
Australian War Memorial, Canberra
Above is a memorial wall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The Duke of Edinburgh opened two wings in 1971
Cultural mix: The White Rabbit Gallery in Sydney (pictured) shows contemporary Chinese art
This page covers the continent’s involvement in the war, from the first settlement at Sydney Cove to UN peacekeeping missions. The royal family has strong ties to the site: Prince Harry, son of King George V and Queen Mary, planted a solitary pine in 1934 and the Duke of Edinburgh opened two of its wings in 1971 (awm.gov.au) .
The White Rabbit Gallery, Sydney
This gem opened in 2009 in a former Rolls Royce service depot to showcase contemporary Chinese art. Owner Judith Neilson was inspired to create the collection after a visit to Beijing in the 1990s and today has more than 2,000 works by nearly 700 artists (whiterabbitcollection.org).
The Norman Lindsay Gallery, Sydney
One of the most beautiful buildings in the Blue Mountains, this Faulconbridge gallery is the former home of artist Norman Lindsay, whose rural lifestyle was portrayed by Sam Neill in the 1994 film Sirens. The sandstone house contains Lindsay’s unconventional paintings and characters from his children’s classic, The Magic Pudding, published in 1918 (nationaltrust.org.au/places/norman-lindsay-gallery).
National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra
Enthusiasts can discover more than three million works in the archive, including films, TV shows and records. The memorabilia includes scripts, costumes and props from films such as the 1986 action comedy Crocodile Dundee, Moulin Rouge and Muriel’s Wedding (nfsa.gov.au).
The National Arboretum, Canberra
This place of beauty and relaxation is home to an incredible 44,000 rare trees spread over 617 hectares. It also includes cycle paths and bridle paths. The site became famous in 2014 when the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge planted a hem-shaped oak tree (nationalarboretum.act.gov.au).
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
The National Portrait Gallery opened in Old Parliament House in 1999 with just 28 works of art and now includes its own purpose-built building where the works honor “very important” Australian citizens. Spanning four centuries, the collection includes photographs, prints, collages and caricatures of people from all walks of life, including Clifton Pugh’s 1958 portrait of Barry Humphries (portrait.gov.au).
Questacon, Canberra
Want to feel the force of an earthquake? Visit the National Science and Technology Centre, which includes galleries such as Australia in Space, dedicated to space technology; Awesome Earth where you can experience seismic forces; and a mini-Q lab for little scientists to experiment in (questacon.edu.au).
The Mad Max 2 Museum houses a collection of memorabilia from George Miller’s 1981 film
The Mad Max 2 Museum, Sydney
British couple Adrian and Linda Bennett moved abroad to set up this museum dedicated to George Miller’s 1981 film. Located in Silverton, where the film was filmed, it contains a collection of memorabilia from the film, including original and replica vehicles (silverton.org .au/experience/attractions/mad-max-museum).
Australian Sports Museum, Melbourne
Sports fans will love this location at the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground, which celebrates the country’s rich sporting history. In an interactive gallery you can ride a bike, archery, play netball and beat the goalkeeper. It also includes an avatar of the late Shane Warne (australiansportsmuseum.org.au).
Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania
The largest privately funded museum in the southern hemisphere, Mona is also known as the “Museum of Sex and Death”. Owner David Walsh chooses fun art to draw your attention between these themes, rather than the works of famous artists. For the full experience, ride the $60 ferry at Posh Pit – a 25-minute ride from Hobart in a private lounge (mona.net.au).
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
