Martin Place Children's Concert and Tree Lighting Celebration

               Christmas Accommodation Sydney Darling Harbour

                                                      GREAT EVENT ON TONIGHT 
                                                               29th November 2012

                                 A rocking good way to kick off the Christmas celebrations

The Martin Place Children's Concert and Tree Lighting will have the kids up and rocking all evening

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If you're looking for a rocking alternative to Christmas on the Green, Martin Place Children's Concert and Tree Lighting Celebration is definitely the event for you. This is the City of Sydney's annual tree-lighting event, which will set it's beautiful Christmas tree twinkling for the very first time this year.

The emphasis for this event is to have the kids up dancing and singing along to all the songs, and it is aimed primarily at a slightly older audience than Christmas on the Green. It's not that the event is not suitable for yoX-Dunger kids, but it is not as comfortable a setting (you can't really throw down a picnic rug in the middle of Martin Place). Even so, the lineup is such that kids of all ages will have a fantastic time regardless.

Luke Jacobz will keep things running smoothly, @ the Martin Place tree lighting celebrations. image: Wikipedia

X-Factor's Luke Jacobz will be the host with the most on the night, ensuring that there's never a dull moment and introducing all the entertainment acts before they flick the switch and illuminate the tree. He will be joined on stage by an awesome array of entertainers including Paulini, Lah Lah's BIG Live Band, Teddy Rock, Sydney Children's Choir and favourites Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima, Humpty and Fergus from Playschool. Look out for other surprise guest appearances and activities on the night.

The lights will be lit after sunset by Santa, Clover Moore and the lucky winner of the City of Sydney's colouring in competition who will get to ride in Santa's sleigh, and take part in this iconic event.

As if all that's not enough, there will also be a spectacular fireworks display to round of the evening's events.

Darling Harbour Santa Fest

                                            

 

 

                                    Darling Harbour Accommodation

 

 

                      Santa will water ski and walk on stilts with free events

Image: Darling Harbour Santa Fest website

Thirty days of Christmas fun at Sydney's much loved Darling Harbour. The Darling Harbour Santa Fest starts on the 24th of November, and runs all the way to Christmas eve. A paradise for kids, yet there will be some entertaining moments lined up for the young at heart too. This is where Darling Harbour turns red, in a sea of red with Santas engaging in bizarre activities from water skiing to walking on stilts.

Image: Darling Harbour Santa Fest website. Santa water skiing at Cockle Bay Wharf

Musical performances will also be the order of the day, as well as the perfect backdrop of fireworks. The Christmas tree will also light up.

The Santa Fest Water Spectacular is on Saturday the 24 November 2012 at 6:30pm. Location: Cockle Bay Wharf. Musical performances by the Sydney Youth Orchestra will be held on the 30th of November, and on the 1st of December 2012 between 7pm-9pm outside the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre right near the Christmas tree. The Youth Orchestra will also be held on the 7th and 8th of December from 7pm to 9pm. Australia's first authentic tango orchestra, Tango Oz will perform Argentine tango music with a Christmas flavour. On the 1st of December, a creative fireworks display will be on at 9pm.

Image: Darling Harbour Santa Fest website. Musical performances getting us all into the festive spirit

A capella music also comprises of this annual Santa Fest. Some of Sydney's best a capella groups such as Sway, Blues Point and Heartbeat will also perform many Christmas classics to get people into the Christmas spirit. The carols a capella performances will be on the following days and times during this festival:

Sunday 2 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.
Thursday 6 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.
Sunday 9 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.
Thursday 13 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.
Sunday 16 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.
Thursday 20 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.
Sunday 20 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm.

Image: Darling Harbour Santa Fest website. Santa is making an appearance at Darling Harbour in a massive way.

If you're someone who loves your Christmas carols, you would have gone to one of many Carols by candlelight events in Sydney in the past. What about a carols sing-a-long? Your chance to be a karaoke superstar in front of the Christmas tree either solo or with some family and/or friends. Your chance to sing to your hearts content into the festive spirit:

Friday 14 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm
Saturday 15 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm
Friday 21 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm
Saturday 22 December 2012 - 7pm to 9pm

If there is rain, events will continue as planned. No alcohol is allowed. Alcohol can only be enjoyed at licensed bars at Darling Harbour. There will be additional food and drink facilities available for families.

Image: Darling Harbour Santa Fest. The massive Christmas Tree outside the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The celebrations would not be complete if it wasn't for the Christmas Eve carols near the massive tree. This is one Santa Fest that is different, and one that will sparkle. Merry Christmas Sydney.

Image: Darling Harbour Santa Fest. Merry Christmas Sydney.

I'm Free - Sydney City Walking Tour with Justine

                                      Darling Harbour Accommodation

 

 

Experience and learn more about wonderful Sydney

The Sydney City Walking Tour with Justine, our tour guide

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Who doesn't want a free walking tour of Sydney. Thanks to Justine and Ross from I'm Free Tours, all you need to do is rock up to Sydney Town Hall for a great history lesson on any day at either 10:30am or 2:30pm, and you will be treated to a three-hour walking tour of the top sights of Sydney.

Justine with her tour guide magic

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Even though the tours are free, donations/tips are advised. At the end of the tour you simply pay what you feel the experience was worth. Many people usually pay $20. After experiencing this tour with Justine, the experience is definitely worth this much, unlike some similar tours in Sydney that charge $35 for half the time.

This was one busy tour, and perfect weather for it

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I'm Free Tours has been around for three and a half years. My tour guide (also named Justine) is really passionate about Sydney, and has an extensive knowledge of some of the top sights. Even though this tour goes for three hours in total, don't worry, you receive a decent break in between.

The tours meeting point at Sydney Town Hall

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Below, I have compiled this article as a list to give you a thorough preview of what to expect on this tour (I'm Free Sydney Sights Tour) where some useful historical facts about Sydney were discovered. I want to keep some things as a surprise so to not ruin the surprise and the experience for you.

1. Her Majesty provides some magic...

Inside a historical building

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The first stop is Sydney's Queen Victoria Building. Before we arrived there though, it was interesting to learn that Sydney Town Hall was built between 1869 to 1889. In 2011, $40 million was spent on the re-development of this pristine building. Nearby St Andrew's Cathedral was also presented to us. Construction commenced in the 1820's and finished in the 1860's.

2. Eternity, oh eternity...

You will find out the name of the person who kept writing 'eternity' in chalk on prominent Sydney spaces. This very same name landed on our Harbour Bridge for the New Year's Eve celebrations in 1999 to bring in the new millennium. Something also happened at the GPO in Martin Place with this word that has shaped Sydney, something of which you will also discover on this amazing tour. Speaking of New Year's Eve, Justine then mentioned that a staggering $6.5 million was spent on the Sydney New Years' Eve fireworks in 2011.

3. Our Talking Dog...

Our talking dog outside the QVB

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I initially didn't know I have now been living in a city that has a talking dog for just over three months now. Outside the Queen Victoria Building (Druitt Street entrance) you will find a talking dog, Isley. What is crazier is that I learnt from Justine that John Laws is the voice of this talking dog. You might have heard this dog many times while in this area of the city.

4. Back to the opulent shopping space...

It was amazing to learn that inside the Queen Victoria Building, on the third floor, there is a letter addressed to us by the Queen that was written in 1995. We are not allowed to open it until 2085. In 1986, Sydneysiders wanted to knock down this beautiful shopping space. We have a Malaysian development company to thank for keeping this building alive.

5. Sydney Tower...you're ever so tall...

In fact a mere 305 metres tall. Justine then mentioned that the building cannot be any taller than that due to legislation.

6. A beautiful, historical park...

At Hyde Park near the historical fountain

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The David Jones public Christmas display was great to look at and admire. On the way to Hyde Park, I then learnt that Justine met Ross while she was studying architecture at Sydney University. Upon graduating they then spent eight months in Europe, and then saw a golden opportunity to set up I'm Free Tours in Sydney (now in Melbourne too), and the rest is history (no pun intended) three and a half years later.

Apparently the fountain in Hyde Park represents the ties that Australia and France had in the first world war. Then Justine explained how Canberra became the capital of Australia.

7. The top three historical buildings...

Yes, the best things in life come for free. When you come on this walking tour, you will be given the names of these three buildings on the Street named by an important Governor. He was that important that even a University and a bank was named in his honour.

8. A rum hospital and an Italian pig, seriously?

That Italian pig

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Yes seriously. You will learn more at the Sydney Hospital site. It is amazing to find out (geez Sydney is a weird city) that our Parliament House was funded by alcohol. Outside Sydney Hospital, I also learnt more about the pig statue. His name is the Italian word for little pig. Our state Parliament House used to be the North Wing of the old rum hospital in the colony/convict times.

9. The Matrix and a Private Hotel, are you for real?

That private hotel in Sydney

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Yes, there is a private hotel neat the MLC centre in Martin Place, and the Matrix film was filmed around here. The GPO at Martin Place was targeted in the second world war. There are more surprises to come.

10. Sydney's creativity

Some Sydney street art

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Although not quite as great as Melbourne's legendary lane ways, some amazing art was discovered in Angel Place in the form of bird cages. Some quirky facts about Sydney were explained. Sydney Fish Markets is the second largest fish market in the world - with the largest being the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan for instance.

11. Heading to Circular Quay...

Glass art at Customs House

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On the way we visited Australia Square, and this is where we all enjoyed a 10-minute break. You will learn more about an interesting office man figure here. The next stop is Customs House, and there was an architecture exhibition on recently. This is where Justine shows us by foot where we started from and where we are now. It was weird walking on top of my new city on glass. A surreal experience indeed.

12. Oprah Winfrey's visit to Sydney

Beautiful Sydney Harbour

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She did not like the Bridgeclimb that much, yet she went on it. Our Opera House at the time was named Oprah House. The Opera House was built over budget. Before finishing up at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, a mini tour of The Rocks was also enjoyed.

An interesting piece of art you will encounter along this tour

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Although slightly more tourists were on this tour than fellow locals, the locals still learnt a lot about amazing and weird Sydney, including yours truly. A fantastic tour, jam packed with information and makes way for a great form of exercise simultaneously. Highly recommended.

Heaps of fun

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This tour will run on a daily basis at 10:30am and 2:30m respectively. Rain, hail or shine. If in a group of 10 or more people, bookings must be made 24 hours in advance by e-mailing info@imfree.com.au

Thank you Justine for an amazing tour

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Christmas on the Green

 

                                        Sydney Christmas on the Green Accomodation

 

Pack a picnic and make a night of it

Christmas on the Green, a great night for kids at Christmas

Christmas on the Green is traditionally one of the high points of the Christmas calendar for those with young children in Sydney, and 2012 is set to be no different - in fact, it's going to be a cracker. As in past years, Hyde Park will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland - the perfect space for families with younger children to settle down with a picnic and get the festive season off to a fantastic start.

Kids' favourite Jimmy Giggle will be host the night, but there will be entertainment from all sorts of familiar faces, such as Peppa Pig, Mumble and Gloria from Happy Feet Two, and Jay Laga'aia from Playschool. Musical entertainment will be provided by children's entertainment act Electric Lunchbox, the Australian Girl's Choir and Jay Laga'aia will also doing a few songs too.

Jimmy Giggle (sans Hoot) will host Christmas on the Green in Hyde Park. image: ABC

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The whole event will be interactive, with songs and actions that the kids can join in with, as well as craft activities that they can take part in. For those who aren't keen on packing a picnic, there will also be a sausage sizzle and delicious gelato on sale. If you want a memento of the night (and to start the Christmas gift giving early), a limited number of showbags will available for a $2 donation - the proceeds go to the Australian Children's Music Foundation charity.

Of course, no Christmas kids event would be complete without Santa, so as if all the other activities are not enough, Santa will also be making an appearance, along with the Lord Mayor, having just lit the lights at Martin Place. He'll be wishing everyone a happy Christmas, and making sure that the boys and girls are going to be good before the big day.

The night's activity will end with a spectacular fireworks display, especially designed for kids.

This event gets pretty busy, so it's wise to get there a little early to get a good spot. Spread out your rug, unpack your snacks, and settle in for the duration, it's going to be a jolly good time.

3D Chalk artwork in Sydney 28/11/2012 - 29/11/2012

Calling all caped crusaders and feline femme fatales

We interrupt your usual Weekend Notes reading with a News Flash: Gotham City, like the proverbial phoenix, will be rising from the ashes of its near destruction and re-emerging in the Sydney CBD for 2 days only this November.

Awesome 3D chalk artwork created for the theatre release in Madrid of The Dark Knight Rises.

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Sydneysiders will be the first fans in the world with the opportunity to purchase the final chapter of the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy on DVD and Double Play. To mark this occasion the Dark Knight will indeed rise as the ground floor of The Galeries is transformed into a dystopian Gotham City by world renowned 3D chalk artists, Joe Hill and Max Lowry.

You're invited to come as your favourite caped crusader or feline femme fatale and have your photo taken against the backdrop of this 4.5 metre X 4.5 metre post-apocalyptic panaroma. And it won't cost you a cent. Those of you who, like me, suffer from vertigo might want to think twice before taking the photographic plunge.

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And if you want to be one of the first people in the world to own the latest Batman DVD, JB Hi-Fi, situated on the basement level of The Galeries will open at 6am on Wednesday 26 November. You may, of course, need to camp out with like-minded batophiles to ensure you get your hands on one of the first copies, but if a you're a real fan you know it will be worth it.

Details

When: From 6am to 6pm on Wednesday 28 November and from 7am to 9pm on Thursday 29 November.
Where: The Galeries, 500 George Street Sydney.

Image from Joe Hill Art website

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You're sure to have seen other work by those talented chalk artists, Joe and Max, who flit around the world creating pavement parallel universes. Their work has adorned streets, squares, shopping centres and footpaths around the world and is bound to have popped up in your inbox attached to emails from your friends. Their anamorphic techniques may seem very contemporary to us but this trick of visually distorting the perspective of an image has actually been around since the time of Leonardo da Vinci.

Andrea Pozzo's painted ceiling in the Church of St. Ignazio (17th Century). Image from Wikimedia Commons.

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Tamper Press Cafe

 

                                                             Tamper Press Cafe 

Breakfast Menu
Tamper Press Big Breakfast 16
Served w your choice of white, multi or rye sourdough
eggs your way, Bacon, chorizo, grilled tomato,
mushrooms & Spinach

EGGS BENEDICT

Served w your choice of white, multi or rye sourdough

Ham, spinach, poached eggs with home-made 14
hollandaise

Smoked salmon, spinach, poached eggs with 15
home-made hollandaise

OMELETTES

Served w your choice of white, multi or rye sourdough

Ham, cheese & tomato 12
Smoked salmon, feta & spinach 14
Mushroom, spinach & onion 12
Asparagus, tomato, onion & cheese 12

FRENCH TOAST W MAPLE SYRUP 10
W mixed berries 11.5
W bacon 13
W mixed berries & bacon 14.5

SIDES /EXTRA
BACON, MUSHROOMS, AVOCADO, SMOKED HAM 3
SPINACH, TOMATO, CHEESE, EXTRA EGG 2
SMOKED SALMON, CHORIZO, FRIED HALOUMI 4

PLEASE ORDER & PAY AT the COUNTER

Sydney Festival 2013 Accomodation at the Metro Apartements Darling Harbour

 

I WANT TO SEE

MUSIC

THEATRE

DANCE

MUSIC THEATRE

FREE

FAMILY

VISUAL ART/INSTALLATIONS

TALKS

I WANT TO GO

DAY ONE

ABOUT AN HOUR

PARADISO AT TOWN HALL

HONDA FESTIVAL GARDEN

PARRAMATTA

Metro Apartments Darling Harbour

132-136 Sussex Street, Sydney
P (+612) 9290 9200

Metro Apartments Darling Harbour is within close walking distance from the all-day, all ages Day One festivities including Sydney Festival’s giant Rubber Duck in Darling Harbour.

Book this Sydney Festival Package FREE upgrade (maximum two people per package) from $199.00 including:

- One night accommodation in an Executive Apartment at the standard apartment price
- Daily free WiFi Internet
- An exclusive Sydney Festival Welcome Pack with Festival goodies
- Fast Festival Vouchers to Sydney Festival restaurants

Email metrodarlingharbour@metrohg.com or call the reservations office 02 9290 9200 and mention “Sydney Festival” at the time of booking, or book online.

On sale now! Book three or more shows and save!

Make the most of the Festival this summer by creating your own mini-program. The more you see, the more you save with a Festival Multipack.

Buy tickets to 3 or 4 events and save 10%
Buy tickets to 5 or more events and save 15%

Terms and conditions: 

- Offer is strictly subject to availability and may not be available for special event dates.
- Valid between January 1 and January 31 2013.
- Rates are not valid with any other offer.
- All other terms & conditions will be provided when making your booking.
- Sydney Festival is not responsible for your accommodation.

 http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au/2013/Metro-Apartments-Darling-Harbour/

Merlin Works its Magic at the NSW Tourism Awards

• Madame Tussauds Sydney wins gold in New Tourism Development category
• Sydney Tower Eye wins silver in Major Tourism Attraction category

Merlin Entertainments Group attractions Madame Tussauds Sydney and the Sydney Tower Eye have won gold and silver respectively at the highly contested 2012 NSW Tourism Awards, held last night at Le Montage in Lilyfield.

Madame Tussauds Sydney took out the gold prize in the New Tourism Development category, while Sydney Tower Eye was awarded silver in the Major Tourist Attraction category. It is the first time that both attractions have entered the NSW Tourism Awards in any category.

Hywel Mathias, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Sydney was thrilled at the news, saying: “What a fantastic achievement for Madame Tussauds as a new and exciting attraction on the Sydney landscape”.
Sydney was selected as the location of the thirteenth Madame Tussauds in the world because of the global nature of the city, the volume of tourists and the Darling Harbour location.
Hywel continued: “The team meticulously took into consideration all elements of setting up an attraction to ensure nothing was missed and I am proud to say we have enjoyed great success since officially opening this year.

I am also extremely proud of my team who ensure every day that all our guests have a fun, interactive
experience. I would also like to acknowledge the other finalists in this category; it was a privilege to be included amongst the company of such outstanding NSW attractions.”

Set within 1800 square metres in Darling Harbour, Madame Tussauds Sydney opened its doors to the public in April 2012 as the thirteenth of its kind in the world at a total cost of $14 million. The attraction gives Australians and international visitors the opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the world’s most famous celebrities via a collection of amazing life-like wax figures in a unique, interactive setting.

Ian Wood, General Manager of Sydney Tower Eye said: “It’s a great honour to have won silver in the Major Tourist Attraction category and I would like to congratulate Blue Mountains National Park for a well-deserved win.

To be acknowledged as a finalist amongst other outstanding NSW attractions was an honour and I am
very proud of our team for all of their hard work and dedication”.
After relaunching in September 2011, Sydney Tower Eye is the highest viewing point in the city and is home to Sydney’s first 4D Cinema. It offers an enhanced visual experience from the Observation Deck, which includes multilingual interactive touch panel screens and high-powered binoculars, as well as SKYWALK – the highest open air experience in Sydney.

Merlin Entertainments operates over 90 attractions around the world, 12 of which are in Australia. Other attractions in the Merlin Entertainments Australian portfolio include the all new SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Mount Hotham and Falls Creek Ski Resorts in Victoria as well as Melbourne Aquarium.

For more information about Sydney Tower Eye or to pre-book tickets visit: www.sydneytowereye.com.au or www.facebook.com/sydneytowereye

For more information about Madame Tussauds Sydney or to pre-book tickets visit
www.madametussauds.com/sydney or www.facebook.com/madametussaudssydney

David Jones Christmas Window Display Sydney

Metro Apartments Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour Santa Fest 2012 Program

Date	Time	Performance/activity	Location
Saturday 24 November	6.30pm -9pm	Santa Fest Water Spectacular	Cockle Bay
Sunday 25 November	7am - 10am	Annual Variety Santa Fun Run	Palm Grove to Tumbalong Park
Friday 30 November	7pm - 9pm	Sydney Youth Orchestra - Symphonic Wind Orchestra	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Saturday 1 December	7pm - 9pm	Sydney Youth Orchestra - Carreon Family quintet	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
	9pm	Harbourside Christmas fireworks	Cockle Bay
Sunday 2 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
	11am - 6pm	Polish Christmas Community Festival	Tumbalong Park
Thursday 6 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Friday 7 December	7pm - 9pm	Sydney Youth Orchestra - Tango Oz	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Saturday 8 December	7pm - 9pm	Sydney Youth Orchestra - Brass Quintet	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
	9pm	Harbourside Christmas fireworks	Cockle Bay
Sunday 9 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Thursday 13 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Friday 14 December	7pm - 9pm	Karaoke Carols by the Tree	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Saturday 15 December	7pm - 9pm	Karaoke Carols by the Tree	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
	9pm	Harbourside Christmas fireworks	Cockle Bay
Sunday 16 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Thursday 20 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Friday 21 December	7pm - 9pm	Karaoke Carols by the Tree	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Saturday 22 December	7pm - 9pm	Karaoke Carols by the Tree	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
	9pm	Harbourside Christmas fireworks	Cockle Bay
Sunday 23 December	7pm - 9pm	A Capella Carols	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
Monday 24 December	7pm - 9pm	Christmas Eve Carols by the Tree	Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre forecourt
	9 pm	Christmas Fireworks	Cockle Bay

	Sydney Youth Orchestra special Santa Fest performances Don't miss three of Sydney Youth Orchestra's talented young ensembles. The Wind Orchestra's wind, brass and percussion players will play 20th-century film scores, jazz classics, orchestral repertoire and the odd Christmas carol. The String Ensemble will perform pieces from their string orchestral repertoire and some Christmas classics. Australia's first authentic tango orchestra, Tango Oz, will perform authentic Argentine tango music with a Christmas flavour.
	A Capella Carols by the Tree Thursday and Sunday evenings from Sunday 2 December to Sunday 23 December, plus Monday 24 December (Christmas Eve) Sydney's finest a capella groups, including Sway, Sorelle, Blues Point and Heartbeat, deliver glorious vocal harmonies as they perform Christmas classics and songs we all know and love to get everyone in the yuletide spirit.
	Christmas Karaoke Carols by the Tree You've been to Carols by Candlelight but have you ever imagine leading the sing-a-long? Come on down to Darling Harbour and get into the festive spirit by singing your favourite Christmas song either solo or with family or friends in front of the twinkling Christmas tree. Grab a mic and show off your Christmas cheer to the world!
	Harbourside Christmas Fireworks Every Saturday from 9pm What Christmas celebration would be complete without fireworks? Finish off the perfect evening in Darling Harbour with spectacular fireworks over Cockle Bay every Saturday night.

Santa Fest Darling Harbour 2012

Hold on to your Santa hat as Darling Harbour transforms into a sea of red and white jolly men for the Santa Fest Water Spectacular on 24 November. There'll be Santas popping up all over Darling Harbour doing everything from water skiing to stilt walking!


Make sure the kiddies don't miss out on the Santa parade, the arrival of Santa on 'Epic Lass' a vintage 1930's boat and the chance to win early Christmas presents in the colouring-in competition. If that wasn't enough to keep the smiles coming, Sydney's biggest ever Santa party on the harbour will finish with a stunning fireworks show and surprise lighting of the Christmas tree.

The festive fun continues until 24 December with A Capella Carols by the Tree, Harbourside Christmas Fireworks, Christmas Karaoke and special performances under the stars by the Sydney Youth Orchestra.

Transform yourself into Santa Claus with our free Santafy Yourself app and you could win one of four $250 dining vouchers.Click for More Info

Darling Harbour Whats on 24th November

Date	Time	What's happening	Location
Saturday 24 November	6.30pm	Colouring-in competition winners announced by Santa	Harbourside Amphitheatre
	From 7.30pm	Santa Fest entertainment begins throughout Darling Harbour
	From 8pm	Smile for Darling Harbour Santa crowd photo Santa Fest carol singers	Around Cockle Bay
	8.15pm - 9pm	Official arrival of Santa on a vintage 1930s boat to open the Santa Fest Water Spectacular. Highlights of the 2012 spectacular include: Parade of boats and yachts, Santa water skiers, Santa Sky Skier, Christmas floats and pyrotechnics ending with the top-secret lighting of the Darling Harbour Christmas tree and Christmas fireworks finale	Cockle Bay

Smile for Darling Harbour Santa crowd photo The Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families throughout Australia. The Starlight Foundation will be selling Santa hats and Christmas wands (as well as various other items) at the Santa Fest Water Spectacular on 24 November. Get your hat and wand and join in the big Darling Harbour crowd Christmas photo at 8pm. You will be able to download a copy of the photo after the event from darlingharbour.com.

Sydney's Oldest Houses

Is Cadman's Cottage c1815 Sydney's Oldest House?

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You would think that identifying the oldest houses in Sydney would be dead easy. You would have thought that a historical organisation or notable historian, academic or even a government department would have identified and compiled a definitive one through ten list of the oldest houses in Sydney by now. But to my disbelief, to my horror even, I discovered that no such list exists. I approached the Sydney Historical Association, The History Council of NSW, Historic Houses Trust, The National Trust, Royal Australian Historical Trust and The Department of Environment and Heritage and nope, sorry they all said, we don't have such a list, why don't you try so and so, and around and around I went.

But there was another degree of difficulty. Am I talking about the City of Sydney or Greater Sydney?

So despite having no formal qualifications in history of any description, I decided to undertake my own search. Using the resources of the University of Google and the good folk at the Department of Environment and Heritage who I asked to compile a list for me based on dates of their own self confessed incomplete data base, I attempted to cobble together my own imperfect list.

Elizabeth Farm c1793

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I was a little surprised to discover that the oldest houses, in fact the oldest complete buildings of any sort in Australia, are not in central Sydney but in Parramatta. Elizabeth Farm lays claim to being the oldest surviving house in Australia. Built for John Macarthur, the father of the wool industry, and his wife Elizabeth, it dates back to 1793, five years after the founding of Sydney. The Governors Dairy Cottage (1798) and parts of old Government House (1799) are also in Parramatta.

Old Government House Parramatta c1799

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After these notable 18th century dwellings at Parramatta, there are a cluster of houses scattered around greater Sydney that claim to have elements of their building dating to around 1810. I can't split them, as definitive construction commencement and completion dates are vague. These residences include Claremont House at Windsor, Collingwood House at Liverpool and Glenfield Farm in Casula.

Collingwood House Liverpool c1810

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The oldest house in the City of Sydney is undoubtedly Cadman's Cottage located on the foreshore of The Rocks next to the Museum of Contemporary Art. Or is it? There is little doubt that bricks and mortor speaking it is the oldest surviving house in the City of Sydney, dating back to 1815. But as the house was actually built as a barracks and wasn't actually lived in as a house until 1827, which puts the next oldest house into the frame. The Francis Greenway designed Cleveland House in Surry Hills dates back to 1823 and mischievous historians claim that this is the oldest existing purpose built house and the longest continuously lived in house in Sydney.

Cleveland House Surry Hills c1823

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So as you can see, I still don't have a definitive one through ten list and I can see why nobody has been game enough to put their name to such a list. The vagaries of identifying completion dates or identifying if the house was lived in or not makes any list open to debate and criticism. I've done all I can do. I am going to leave it to the qualified historians to argue over dates and locations and come up with the definitive one to ten list of Sydney's oldest houses.

Darling Harbour Santa Fun Fun

   

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Variety – the Children’s Charity will host the fourth annual Santa Fun Run on Sunday 25th November 2012. Join in the world’s greatest fun run and be a Clause for a Cause!

You can run it, walk it, skip it, hop it - finish it however you like, just make sure you do it in your official five piece Variety Santa Suit! Best of all, registrations include a Santa suit for adults and children (aged 3-12).
The 5km Variety Santa Fun Run will commence at 9am at Palm Grove Darling Harbour, make its way around the water’s edge through Pyrmont and finish at Tumbalong Park for the Santa’s Festival.
So c’mon join us and help raise much needed funds for sick, disadvantaged and special needs children.
Stay tuned at our Facebook page for updates
NEWCASTLE SANTA FUN RUN - CLICK HERE
PORT MACQUARIE SANTA FUN RUN - CLICK HERE

View the 2011 Santa Fun Run gallery