Customs House Forecourt
About the Festival

The third annual Sydney Architecture Festival will be held on Monday 5 October 2009.  Last year's event attracted over 6,000 participants.

The Festival provides thought provoking new perspectives on Sydney by developing the community's appreciation and enjoyment of good architecture and communicating the importance of good design in achieving a sustainable, healthy and culturally rich built environment. > more

Sydney Architecture Festival 2009

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Tours
AAA Harbour Cruise
Guided Tours

SOLD OUT

The only architecture cruise in Sydney led by architect Nick Hollo.

This is a 90 minute narrated cruise. Designed to bring a new perspective to the city by focusing on architecturally significant sites around Sydney Harbour foreshores aboard the aboriginal boat the Deerubbun and led by architects Nick Hollo.

Departure location Campbells Cove (near Doyles Restaurant) at 11am.  Please meet at 10.50am.

 

The Sydney Architecture Festival Harbour Cruise has been organised by the Australian Architecture Association (AAA). Click here to book online .

 

Venue: Harbour Cruise
Meet Doyles Rest 10:50am
Start: 11.00 am
Finish: 12.30 pm
Bookings: Visit AAA
harbour cruise
 
AAA Walking Tours
Guided Tours

A new series of architectural walks pointing out sights of interest in the CBD have been developed for the Sydney Architecture Festival by the Australian Architecture Association (AAA).

These tours are free but please book your spot at the AAA stand on the forecourt of Customs House The tours are repeated throughout the day.

Tours leave from the Customs House forecourt. Please be at the AAA stand 5 minutes before each tour.

Sydney City Architecture Tour

The Sydney city walk focuses on high-rise development since WWII. You will learn who designed Sydney’s tallest skyscraper. You will learn what a curtain wall building is. You will learn why Australia Square is round. You will learn when fire regulations changed to allow buildings above 13 storeys to be built. You will learn where the highest garden in Sydney is located.

TOUR TIMES:

10.30am;11.30am;12.00pm;1.00pm;1.30pm & 3.00pm

The Governor's Street

This walk explores Macquarie Street, home to the Governor (until 1996), Parliament, as well as significant apartment buildings, Sydney Hospital and The Mint.

TOUR TIMES: 11.00am & 2.30am

Martin Place Tour

The Martin Place tour is called ‘100 years to make a civic place’ and traces the journey from a 10 foot lane that adjoined the newly completed GPO in 1874, to the grand civic space 100 feet wide that runs from George Street through to Macquarie Street, and highlights all the intervening episodes including a mysterious fire on Pitt Street that occurred just as the first section of Martin Place was being formed.

TOUR TIMES: 10.30am & 2.00pm

Big Street Big Buildings

This tour is along George Street and the guide will give a background to what was Sydney’s original High Street, and visit some of Sydney’s most significant skyscrapers, including Seidler’s Grosvenor Square.

TOUR TIMES: 10.30am; 12.30pm & 2.00pm 

Venue: Customs House
Forecourt
Start: 10:30 am
 
Finish: 4:00 pm
Bookings: AAA stand on the day. 

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Powerhouse Museum Self-guided Tours
Self Guided Tours

Be the first to get your copy of the Powerhouse Museum's latest editions in its series of self-guided walking tours, following the success of Sydney Modernism, launched in 2008.

Pyrmont Ultimo

Curator Anni Turnbull introduces some of the people and places that have shaped the suburbs. From the Scottish quarrymen of 1850s and the warehouses and industries that dominated the 20th century, to present day communities who have lobbied for parkland and open space.

Astronomical Sydney

Sydney Observatory curator Dr Nick Lomb reveals the astronomical, navigational and meteorological history of Sydney. The walk takes in structures and sites on Observatory Hill, the Rocks, and across the Harbour Bridge to North Sydney.

The maps are available from the Festival, the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory or you can download from maps.powerhousemuseum.com

Venue: Around the city

Start: Anytime you like
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