Q. Station Visit, October 2009
- Posted: 26 October 2009 (Permalink)
Written by Sandy Marker
Visiting Sydney during the 2010 Sogetsu Ikebana Celebrations? If so and you are planning on sight seeing, a ferry trip to Manly is worth some time out.
As you approach Manly cast your eyes over to the Northern headland where you should catch sight of the historic old quarantine buildings nestled in amongst the Australian bush on North Head. This is called the Q Station or in years gone by the Sydney Quarantine Station. As hosts of the ‘50 Golden Years of Sogetsu, Australia and New Zealand’ next year some of the committee wanted to learn more about our beautiful city of Sydney and its extensive environs. A visit to the Q. Station has been on many peoples ‘to do list’, so not leaving it to chance Jenny Goodwin organized a private tour for a group of us.To our amazement times haven’t changed much – crossing borders into a new country is still fraught with complications. Now days it may be swine flu but a century or so ago the Australian border had its challenges. To avoid the new colony of Sydney becoming ill from ship borne diseases, ships were inspected before landing and if there was the slightest indication of illness aboard, the ship and everyone on board, were quarantined for 40 days. From the windows of the restored hospital we could see the stunning views into Sydney Harbour to the city. I am sure to view was not always enjoyed by the new arrivals – so close yet so far away after months and months at sea, but today it looks ‘magic’.
If you get to ride the ferry to Manly, cast your eyes to the right as you go past the ‘Sydney Harbour heads’, and give a thought to the men and women who helped built this wonderful city and who started out there in isolation before being allowed to join in this new world city.
