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Merry Christmas etc!

I send my good wishes to one and all with my gif that features: two (native Australian) Peacock Carpenter bees (that I was very fortunate to see in person on one of my bush walks!), a posey of flannel flowers, two sprays of gum blossoms and a coastal banksia. 

Sydney Flora and Fauna

From top right clockwise: Gum Blossoms, a Black Swan, Native Fuchsia, A Pelican, Red Spider Flower, A Little Cormorant, Tea Tree Blossoms, another Pelican, and Flannel Flowers in the centre.

Tabitha and Giorgio

Tabitha and Giorgio - just passing.

Flannel Flowers

My drawing of one of Sydney's (and New South Wales' for that matter) prettiest bush flowers: the Flannel Flower.

State Savings Bank

What has Doric, Ionic and Corinthian Columns and is pink all over? The State Savings Bank of course - another of my favourite buildings in Sydney. It is a Beaux-Arts Revivalist wonder right in the heart of Sydney city!

Built between 1925 and 1928, the exterior features a red granite base with pink terracotta tiles covering the upper outer levels. Four imposing Ionic columns stand at the front while the sides are decorated with handsome Doric columns. Inside it is as equally striking with enormous green pillars in the foyer and a white marble vault that features a massive bronze door with a wheel. Elegant hanging brass light fittings and complicated floral mosaic tiling are also details of the interior areas. As with the Grace Building that I wrote about in a previous post, I was lucky enough to go on a behind the scenes guided tour of this colossal beauty as part of an Open Sydney weekend held a few years ago. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos of the interior, so you'll just have to take my word for it that it is quite the marvel inside!  Fortunately, it is also heritage listed as of 2000. More information can be found here which gives quite a detailed description of the building's significance and history. 

What's on in Sydney...

Mother ducks teaching their ducklings how to forage, Kangaroo Paws, Spoonbills, Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Flannel Flowers.