Moore Stairs

Last updated

Moore Stairs (2023) Moore Stairs, Sydney, 2023, 08.jpg
Moore Stairs (2023)

The Moore Stairs, (originally Moore's Stairs) also known as Moore Steps, are a NSW heritage listed public access flight of stairs which connect East Circular Quay with Macquarie Street in Sydney, Australia. Constructed in 1868 of Melbourne bluestone, they were named in honour of the city's mayor Charles Moore, and remain in use. [1] [2]

Contents

Moore Stairs Gazette notice.jpg
NSW Government Gazette notice of the reserving of the land as a public thoroughfare on 10 January 1868. [3]
(1)Moores Stairs-4.jpg
The dedication stone. Unveiled on September 9th, 1868.
Sydney Cove wool stores, east side.jpg
Talbot's woolstores and the stairs visible between them, 1890.

Need for the stairs

By the 1860s, the difficulty of getting between the Tarpeian Way [the path along the top of the escarpment, now part of the Royal Botanic Garden] and the quay had "been the subject of loud complaint" for a number of years. [4] The first design for the stairs, in a drawing by the City Engineer Edward Bell in 1866, shows a single flight of "bottom block Pyrmont stones" rising to a mid-landing where the stairway divides into two and rises in separate flights to Macquarie Street. The space between the flights held a wrought iron lamp frame and gas lamp. All three flights had a Sydney sandstone balustrade of ashlar blocks and topped with a half-round coping. The whole design was to be supported on sandstone arches and in an area 20 feet wide. [5] A building contract was drawn up and signed in March 1867. However, a land ownership claim was raised by the Mr. Talbot, owner of the Talbot Stores buildings on either side. [2] The dispute was resolved in January 1868 with the Government Gazette proclaimed the land as being "...dedicated to the public as a thoroughfare and footway". [3]

An alternate design was then drawn up and again signed by Bell, with the material changing to a basalt, known as Melbourne bluestone, which was more hard-wearing than the soft Sydney sandstone. [2] The stairs today are this second design–consisting of a single straight flight with an intermediate landing–although they have undergone several restorations and the width of the space either side has been increased. [6]

Opening

In the presence of the city aldermen and other dignitaries, the public stars were officially opened at half-past twelve on Wednesday, 9 September 1868 by the Mayor Charles Moore, [4]

In order that what I say may not be misunderstood, or inadvertently misrepresented, I have written down what I propose to say in opening these stairs. In July 1866, the ground on which these stairs are erected was pointed out to me as public property. It was then fenced in, and had been used as a lumber yard by Messrs. Talbot for seven or eight years. Had I not done my duty to the city it would have been a lumber yard still, and the public deprived of a very convenient thoroughfare. Lawsuits followed, and obstacles were thrown in the way, but all the difficulties have at length been removed. I have the pleasure of declaring 'Moore's Stairs' opened for traffic.

A bottle was thereupon smashed by the Mayor "in the most approved orthodox manner", followed by three cheers for the queen and three for the Mayor. The party then departed to a ceremonial planting of trees in Moore's Park (also named in his honour). The events were reported seriously, [4] and satirically, [7] in the local papers. Both the stairs, and the park, are now commonly known as Moore, not Moore's.

Maintenance

Having completed its construction, the Sydney Municipal Council was responsible for the stairs' maintenance. They received various official complaints about the need for cleaning, barricading against rough sleeping, and for the removal of refuse. Under the archways earth closets and a urinal were installed, and eventually, removed [2] [8] – after neighbour and former litigant Mr. Talbot complained they were a "criminal nuisance". [9]

Contemporary use

East Circular Quay and the Bennelong Apartments (2011). The Moore Stairs are visible between the central and right buildings. Bennelong Apartments, 1-7 Macquarie Street, Sydney, New South Wales (2011-03-23) 01.jpg
East Circular Quay and the Bennelong Apartments (2011). The Moore Stairs are visible between the central and right buildings.

The stairs remain today, delineating the boundary between two of the Bennelong Apartments buildings – 3-7 Macquarie Street, and 61 Macquarie Street – directly opposite the Museum of Contemporary Art and aligned with the ends of the Circular Quay ferry wharves. They are listed on the NSW Heritage register with the statement of significance that they provide "...a thin vista of Circular Quay in an otherwise impenetrable wall of buildings." [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circular Quay</span> Locality in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Circular Quay is a harbour, former working port and now international passenger shipping port, public piazza and tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circular Quay railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Circular Quay railway station is a heritage-listed elevated commuter rail station that is located on the City Circle route, serving the Circular Quay precinct of the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. It is served by Sydney Trains T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown and T8 Airport & South line services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macquarie Place Park</span> Heritage-listed park in Sydney, Australia

The Macquarie Place Park, also known as the Macquarie Place Precinct, is a heritage-listed small triangular urban park located in the Sydney central business district in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The former town square and milestone and now memorial, public park and monument is situated on the corner of Bridge Street and Loftus Street. It is named in honour of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The precinct includes The Obelisk or Macquarie Obelisk, the Sirius anchor and gun/cannon, the Statue of Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, the historic Underground Public Conveniences and the Christie Wright Memorial Fountain. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 March 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum railway station</span> Railway station in Sydney, Australia

Museum railway station is a heritage-listed underground commuter rail station that is located on the City Circle route at the southern end of Hyde Park in the Sydney central business district of New South Wales, Australia. The station is served by Sydney Trains T2 Inner West & Leppington and T3 Bankstown T8 Airport & South lines. The station is named after the nearby Australian Museum. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Street, Sydney</span> Street in Sydney, Australia

George Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Domain, Sydney</span> Park in Sydney, Australia

The Domain is a heritage-listed 34-hectare (84-acre) area of open space located on the eastern fringe of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Separating the central business district from Woolloomooloo, The Domain adjoins the Royal Botanic Gardens and is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust, a division of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The Domain is used as a venue for outdoor concerts, open-air events, large political gatherings and rallies, as well as being used daily by the people of Sydney for exercise and relaxation. Along with the Royal Botanic Gardens, The Domain was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macquarie Street, Sydney</span> Street in Sydney, Australia

Macquarie Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Macquarie Street extends from Hyde Park at its southern end to the Sydney Opera House at its northern end. Apart from connecting these two major landmarks, the key government institutions of the state of New South Wales are all located on this street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macquarie Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in New South Wales, Australia

The Macquarie Lighthouse, also known as South Head Upper Light, is the first, and is the longest serving, lighthouse site in Australia. It is located on Dunbar Head, on Old South Head Road, Vaucluse in the Municipality of Woollahra local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The lighthouse is situated approximately 2 kilometres (1 mi) south of South Head near the entrance to Sydney Harbour. There has been a navigational aid in this vicinity since 1791 and a lighthouse near the present site since 1818. The current heritage-listed lighthouse was completed in 1883. The lighthouse and associated buildings were designed by James Barnet and built from 1881 to 1883.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney central business district</span> Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Sydney central business district (CBD) is the historical and main commercial centre of Sydney. The CBD is Sydney's city centre, or Sydney City, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Colloquially, the CBD or city centre is often referred to simply as "Town" or "the City". The Sydney city centre extends southwards for about 3 km (2 mi) from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement in which the Sydney region was initially established.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney</span> Botanic gardens in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is a heritage-listed major 30-hectare (74-acre) botanical garden, event venue and public recreation area located at Farm Cove on the eastern fringe of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cahill Expressway</span> Highway in Sydney, Australia

Cahill Expressway is an urban freeway in Sydney and was the first freeway constructed in Australia, first opening to traffic in 1958. It links the southern foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, over an elevated roadway and through a series of sunken cuttings and tunnels between the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain, to Woolloomooloo in Sydney's inner-eastern suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney sandstone</span> Medium to coarse-grained quartz sandstone with minor shale and laminite lenses.

Sydney sandstone is the common name for Sydney Basin Hawkesbury Sandstone, one variety of which is historically known as Yellowblock, and also as "yellow gold" a sedimentary rock named after the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney, where this sandstone is particularly common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bennelong Apartments</span>

The Bennelong Apartments is a residential apartment building and multi-use complex on the east side of Sydney's Circular Quay. The buildings were designed by Andrew Andersons and PTW Architects, and completed in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CBD and South East Light Rail</span> Light rail line in Sydney, Australia

The CBD and South East Light Rail is a light rail line running between Sydney's central business district (CBD) and the south-eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Construction commenced in October 2015, with services between Circular Quay and Randwick commencing on 14 December 2019 as the L2 Randwick Line, and between Circular Quay and Kingsford on 3 April 2020 as the L3 Kingsford Line. It is part of Sydney's light rail network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Moore (Australian politician)</span> Australian politician

Charles Moore was an Irish-born Australian politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Square Substation No. 6 and Underground Conveniences</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Taylor Square Substation No.6 and Underground Conveniences is a heritage-listed electrical substation and underground public toilets at the intersection of Taylor Square, Oxford, Forbes and Bourke Streets, in the inner city Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Both the substation and the underground conveniences were designed by Robert Hargreave Brodrick and built from 1904 to 1907, with Owen Ridge & Sons building the substation and G. D. Getherson the underground public conveniences. The property is owned by City of Sydney. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 July 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argyle Cut</span> Historic road in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Argyle Cut is a heritage-listed roadway and road cutting located at Argyle Street in the inner-city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1843 to 1868 with convict and paid labour. The property is owned by the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumberland Place and Steps</span> Heritage-listed street in Sydney, Australia

The Cumberland Place and Steps are heritage-listed steps and a laneway located at Cumberland Place, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built from 1807. It is also known as Suffolk Lane; Stubbs Lane; Gloucester Lane; and Cribb's Lane. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct</span> Historic site in New South Wales, Australia

Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct is a heritage-listed precinct that contains The Rocks police station, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, car park, parks, shops and roads located at 112–156 George Street, in the inner city Sydney suburb of The Rocks in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The precinct previously contained a commissariat store, Maritime Services Board offices, dockyard and Department of Labour & Industry offices. Buildings in the precinct were developed in various stages since 1797 to date, with heritage-listed buildings dating from 1797 to 1939. The precinct is also known as the Museum of Contemporary Art, Maritime Services Board, Colonial Government naval dockyard, Commissariat Stores, Colonial Hospital, Kings and Queens Wharf and First Fleet Park. The property is owned by Property NSW, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 August 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">93–97 Macquarie Street, Sydney</span> Heritage-listed building in Sydney, Australia

93–97 Macquarie Street, Sydney or formerly the Health Department building is a heritage-listed former government office, health clinic and hospital admissions depot and now hotel at 93–97 Macquarie Street, in the Sydney central business district, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Walter Liberty Vernon and NSW Government Architect and built from 1896 to 1898. It is currently part of the Sir Stamford Hotel, which formerly was a Ritz Carlton Hotel. In its history it has also been used as the Venereal Disease Clinic, STD Clinic, Hospital Admissions Depot and Former Health Board Offices. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 9 October 2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Moore Stairs | Heritage NSW". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Preston, Jennifer (2018). "Moore Steps". dictionaryofsydney.org. Dictionary of Sydney . Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Thoroughfare and Footway". New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832–1900). 10 January 1868. p. 76. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Opening of Moore's Stairs—Planting of Trees at Moore's Park". The Sydney Morning Herald . 10 September 1868. p. 5. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Edward Bell, Plan of Steps (Macquarie St. North), 15 December 1866, City of Sydney,  E3-51/2. Cited in Preston, Jennifer (2018).
  6. ↑ "Moore stairs & Circular Quay East. Repair of stairway & beautification of adjoining areas. Contribution by Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Scty. Ltd. Towards cost of beautification", Stephenson & Turner, City of Sydney Archives, 2496/73; "Moore Stairs, East Circular Quay; proposal for Colonial Mutual Life Insurance Society Ltd to cooperate in suggested restoration", City of Sydney Archives, 1377/70. Cited in Preston, Jennifer (2018).
  7. ↑ "Opening of Moore Stairs". Sydney Punch . 19 September 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "SYDNEY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL". Sydney Morning Herald . 2 October 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Talbot & Son (April 1872). "Letter: Circular Quay, complain of the stench from the closets & urinals under Moore's Steps and ask that they be removed". City of Sydney Archives. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
This Wikipedia article is substantially built upon the essay "Moore steps" (2018) written by Dr Jennifer Preston in the Dictionary of Sydney and licensed under CC BY. Imported to Wikipedia on 19 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.