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In memoriam the Sydney International Exhibition, 1879: enduring urban and cultural legacies
Citation
Orr, K, In memoriam the Sydney International Exhibition, 1879: enduring urban and cultural legacies, City and Society in European History: Proceedings of the Xth International Conference on Urban History, September 2010, Ghent, Belgium, pp. 1-7. (2010) [Non Refereed Conference Paper]
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Abstract
The first international exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere was held in Sydney, Australia,
in 1879. A magnificent Garden Palace was constructed on the harbour fore shores surmounted
by a marvellous dome that was not only the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, but ranked
sixth in the world for size. Constructed entirely of timber, it was not expected to stand
forever, but its passing came sooner than expected when it was destroyed by a great fire in
1882. This paper argues that although the Sydney International Exhibition and Garden Palace
were ephemeral entities, they left an indelible mark on the collective psyche of the people and
the city through the development of an urban ethos that linked urban development to higher
ideals of nation building. The exhibits on show from around the world encouraged visitors to
compare themselves to other nations and to define their national identity. The staging of the
event focussed attention on the city, providing new media and experiences by which people
could orient themselves to their urban milieu. The emphasis placed on the city and urban
culture stimulated urban growth and influenced its form. Efforts were intensified to endow
Sydney with cultural institutions and amenities, and urbanism came to provide a shared
language with the Old World, essential to the construction of an Australian national identity.
This paper will examine two major strands of the exhibition - the exhibits on show and the
urban focus of the event itself. It will demonstrate the manner in which the Sydney
International Exhibition generated shared sentiments that endured at least until the turn of the
century and contributed to the development of the city.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Non Refereed Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Sydney International Exhibition, Garden Palace, Australian national identity |
| Research Division: | Built Environment and Design |
| Research Group: | Architecture |
| Research Field: | Architectural History and Theory |
| Objective Division: | Cultural Understanding |
| Objective Group: | Understanding Past Societies |
| Objective Field: | Understanding Australia's Past |
| Author: | Orr, K (Professor Kirsten Orr) |
| ID Code: | 107711 |
| Year Published: | 2010 |
| Deposited By: | Architecture |
| Deposited On: | 2016-03-22 |
| Last Modified: | 2016-03-22 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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