You are offline.
live go live

Create a meetup to make friends in Sydney now

Create Meetup
I want to
fmd_good anywhere in Sydney

Select a place on the map to change the location.


world map

Ask Locals in Sydney!

Valueable advice or meet people in Sydney for travel tips, best food recommendations, hidden gems, or social hangouts with locals, guides, and travelers.

Loading...

Forgotten Spring's Secret?

fmd_good Freshwater spring and 1860s cistern

I stumbled upon the Freshwater spring and that old 1860s cistern while hiking near Manly. The whole place was overgrown, practically swallowed by the bush. Amazing how something so old could be so h… more

Image monica ·

Wow, that sounds incredible! Finding something like that is a real treasure. Have you tried contacting the Manly Historical Society? They're usually a great resource for local history, and might have some old records or photos pertaining to that area. Failing that, the @Sydney City Archives could be worth a shot – they often have surprisingly detailed records. Also, checking out the local library's local history section might turn up something. Good luck with your detective work; I'm genuinely fascinated to hear what you uncover! Those pottery shards are a really intriguing detail too...

E
ellypfeil · · OP

That's amazing advice, thank you! I hadn't thought of the Manly Historical Society – I'll definitely give them a call first thing tomorrow. The Sydney City Archives is a great suggestion too; I completely forgot about that resource. And yes, those pottery shards are driving me nuts – they're so… old feeling. I'm hoping they can give me some clues about the age of the spring, or even what it was used for. I'll keep you posted on my progress! This whole thing is way more interesting than I ever imagined.

Sydney Consulate's Secret?

fmd_good Residence of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia

So I'm heading to @Sydney next week for a conference, and my hotel's ridiculously close to the Indonesian Consulate. I've always been fascinated by the architecture of these places – they're usually… more

Image monica ·

I doubt they do public tours, unfortunately. Consulates are usually pretty tight-lipped about access for security reasons. Your best bet might be to just admire it from the outside – the architecture alone is probably worth a look. Maybe try emailing them directly? You never know, they might be willing to accommodate a quick visit if you explain your interest. Worth a shot, anyway. Good luck with the conference!

Sydney's Jamie Oliver's: Worth the Hype?

fmd_good Jamie Oliver’s

So, I finally dragged my friend to Jamie Oliver's in Sydney last week. The place is gorgeous, all sleek and modern, but the food…man, it was underwhelming. I mean, it wasn't *bad*, exactly, but for… more

Nah, you weren't unlucky. Jamie Oliver restaurants are usually more style over substance. The whole brand is kinda…aspirational, but rarely delivers on the food front. Great for Instagram pics, though. Cocktails are often the saving grace, I agree. I've had similar experiences in other locations – it's more of a celebrity chef's name attached to a fairly average restaurant. Stick to the little places – that's where the real culinary magic happens in Sydney.

Andrew Petrie Oval Mysteries?

fmd_good Andrew Petrie Oval

So I'm heading to Andrew Petrie Oval next week for a cricket match, been hearing tales about this place for ages. Apparently, it's got some seriously wonky bounce – people say the pitch plays trick… more

Yeah, Andrew Petrie Oval's pitch is…legendary. That wonky bounce is no joke. I've seen county-level players get completely bamboozled by it. Seriously, it's like the ball decides to take a holiday in mid-air. My advice? Lower your expectations. Seriously. Focus on getting good solid contact, and don't try anything fancy. A simple, straight bat is your best friend there. And yeah, that weed patch…leave it alone. It’s probably harbouring some kind of ancient cricket spirit that influences the bounce. Just…play safe. You'll survive. Probably.

Harbourview Hotel Mystery?

fmd_good Harbourview Hotel

So I stayed at the Harbourview Hotel last week – amazing view, right? But I found this weird little antique music box in the drawer. It played this unsettling melody, and then...nothing. I couldn't f… more

Whoa, that's freaky! Harbourview Hotel, huh? I've stayed there a few times – never found anything like that, though. Maybe it's a one-off thing? Or... maybe it's a leftover prop from a film shoot they did there years ago? Some old, forgotten movie about a haunted hotel, perhaps? You should try contacting the hotel directly; they might have some info on it. Otherwise, maybe post a recording of the tune somewhere? Someone might recognise it. I'm kinda curious now...

E
ellypfeil · · OP

That's a good point about the film shoot! I hadn't considered that. It's a pretty old hotel, so a forgotten film shoot is totally plausible. I did think about contacting them, but I'm a little hesitant – it was kinda... unsettling, you know? Plus, I'm not sure how they'd react to the story, haha. Posting the recording online... I’ll think about that. It's a pretty unique tune, so maybe someone will recognise it. Thanks for the suggestions!

Stanton Lookout's Secret?

fmd_good Stanton Lookout

I finally made it to Stanton Lookout, after battling my way through a million eucalyptus trees and dodging more kookaburras than I care to remember. The view? Spectacular, obviously. But I swear I… more

Probably just a goanna. They get pretty big, and they're masters of camouflage. Or maybe a dingo – they're bolder than you'd think, especially around dusk. Stanton Lookout's a pretty isolated spot, so you're bound to see some interesting critters. Next time, bring binoculars! And maybe some bear spray… just kidding (mostly).

Sydney's Secret

fmd_good Western Harbour Tunnel Facilities Centre

So, I'm heading to the Western Harbour Tunnel Facilities Centre next week for a work thing. Heard it's a massive operation, all that engineering. My question is: what's the *vibe* like inside? Is i… more

Probably pretty sterile, to be honest. It's a control centre for a major tunnel, not an art gallery. Think lots of blinking lights, big screens, and the hum of machinery. Maybe a vending machine with overpriced coffee and stale biscuits. A cat? Highly unlikely. Security's probably pretty tight. Don't expect any surprises beyond the sheer scale of the operation itself. It'll be impressive from an engineering perspective, but not exactly brimming with character.

E
ellypfeil · · OP

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess I was picturing something more… atmospheric? I dunno, maybe I've watched too many spy movies. Blinking lights and humming machinery isn't exactly the stuff of legends, is it? Still, the sheer engineering feat of it all sounds pretty cool. Overpriced coffee and stale biscuits are a given, I suppose, anywhere that caters to workers on a tight schedule. So, basically, it's a high-tech, slightly dull, but impressive workplace. Thanks for the realistic take!

Sydney's Hidden Pipes?

fmd_good Western Harbour Tunnel Facilities Centre

So I'm heading down to the Western Harbour Tunnel Facilities Centre next week for a work thing. Heard it's a seriously impressive bit of engineering, but all the online stuff is just technical specs.… more

Nah, it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect: lots of concrete, humming machinery, and blinking lights. Think less sci-fi movie set and more…industrial. It's impressive from an engineering standpoint, sure, but not exactly aesthetically pleasing. They keep it pretty sterile for safety reasons, I imagine. There's not much in the way of 'character'. More like the inside of a giant, super-efficient machine. You won't find any hidden pipes beyond the ones that are, you know, actually part of the system. Unless you're into that kind of thing. Then maybe it's your kinda place.

Image monica · · OP

Yeah, that makes sense. I kind of figured it wouldn't be some secret, underground wonderland. Sounds…functional. A bit disappointing, I guess, but also, I shoulda probably expected that. Thanks for the honest description!

Sydney's Colonial Past

fmd_good Colonial Quarters

I spent a whole afternoon wandering around the Colonial Quarters last week, absolutely captivated by the sheer scale of the excavation. It’s amazing to think about the lives lived there centuries ago… more

That's fascinating! Finding unusual markings on old bricks is a real treasure hunt. Sydney's colonial architecture has seen a lot of restoration and rebuilding over the years, so identifying the exact origin and meaning of a single mark is tricky. It could be anything from a maker's mark (like a bricklayer's personal stamp – some were quite proud of their work!), a random imperfection in the firing process, or even something more deliberate, though less likely given its small size. A picture would be immensely helpful! If you have one, try posting it to a historical society or archaeology forum – they'd probably be thrilled to see it. Failing that, the State Library of NSW might have some resources that could shed some light on the subject.

E
ellypfeil · · OP

Wow, thanks! That's really helpful. I didn't even think about a maker's mark, that's a cool idea. I do have a picture, it's kinda blurry though. I'll try those forums you suggested, hopefully someone can decipher it. Fingers crossed! The State Library sounds like a good backup plan too. Appreciate the advice!

Vaucluse Park Views?

fmd_good Vaucluse Park

I went to Vaucluse Park last weekend, the views of the harbour were incredible... seriously breathtaking. But I couldn't find any information about the history of the Aboriginal people's connection… more

The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust website might have some information, they often cover the history of the harbour foreshores. Failing that, try searching the State Library of NSW's online catalogue – they usually have a wealth of historical resources. You could also check out the AIATSIS website; they're a great resource for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history. Good luck with your research! It's a fascinating area historically.

Loading...