Taylor Square, Sydney

Taylor Square is a locality in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Taylor Square is located beside a major road junction, where Oxford Street meets Flinders Street. Taylor Square is also on the border of the suburbs of Darlinghurst and Surry Hills. The square sits above the tunnel section of the Eastern Distributor part of Metroad 1. The square is named after Sir Allen Taylor (1864-1940), a timber merchant, ship builder and Lord Mayor of Sydney who was responsible for the widening of Oxford Street during his tenure.[1]

Taylor Square, Darlinghurst

The area formerly bound by the traffic of the three streets is popularly known as "Gilligan's Island" because of three large palm trees that once occupied the strip, but have since been subsequently removed.[2] Construction of the Eastern Distributor also entailed the realignment of traffic flow in the area. Direct vehicle access across Oxford Street via Bourke Street is no longer possible.

The locality is a centre of the city's nightlife, especially for its LGBT community. Two permanent tributes are the large rainbow flag and rainbow crossing, built in 2014 and 2019 respectively.[3]

The original temporary rainbow crossing on Oxford St (April 2013)

Darlinghurst Courthouse is an imposing sandstone building on Taylor Square. It was designed by architect Mortimer Lewis (1796 - 1879) in 1844, and has a Greek Revival style facade. The central block is adapted from an 1823 design in Peter Nicholson's 'The New Practical Builder'.[4]

The square also features a large water fountain built into the pavement. This was part of a $5.25 million upgrade, in 2003, including lighting and grass terrace. The fountain is currently being reviewed for upgrade and repair by City of Sydney Council.[5]


See also

References
  1. "Allen Taylor". Sydney's Aldermen. City of Sydney. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  2. "Gilligan's Island". City Hub Sydney | Your Local Independent News. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  3. "Crossing the rainbow on Taylor Square | City of Sydney - News". news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  4. Apperly, Irving & Reynolds, 1989.
  5. "Decision - Taylor Square Water Feature Maintenance and Upgrade". meetings.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.


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