Prince Alfred Park is an urban park in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia. It is bounded by Chalmers Street to the east, Cleveland Street to the south and the Main Suburban railway line to the west.
History In December 1865, part of Cleveland Paddocks was gazetted as a public reserve after a local landmark house built in the 1820s named Cleveland House. In 1868 it was named Prince Alfred Park after Prince Alfred when he visited Sydney.History of Prince Alfred Park City of Sydney
The park layout was designed by Benjamin Backhouse. From 1869 until 1881, it hosted the Royal Easter Show.The Sydney Royal Easter Show State Library of New South Wales In 1870 the park hosted the Sydney Intercolonial Exhibition to mark the centenary of James Cook’s landing.Prince Alfred Park Sydney Morning Herald 15 June 1870 page 7 After the exhibition, the Exhibition Building hosted important events and exhibitions. It housed the Australian War Memorial from 1925 until 1936 when it moved to Canberra.Australian War Memorial Museum Cootamundra Herald 1 April 1925 page 2
Trees from the original 1870 plan of the park still exist, including Moreton Bay fig trees along the boundaries.
Tennis courts were opened in 1924 and a swimming pool in 1954. In 1926, the New South Wales Government Railways opened the Prince Alfred Sidings on the western border of the park.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 693 July 1995 page 205 These were closed in June 1995.CityRail's New Timetable Railway Digest August 1995 page 13 An ice skating rink existed behind the pool from 1959 until 1997.
In 1960 the Prince Alfred Park Swimming Pool opened.Last lap for plain old city pool Sydney Morning Herald 22 July 2005 It was demolished in 2009 as part of a major upgrade of the park and the pool by the City of Sydney. It reopened in May 2013 after suffering delays related to extended periods of wet weather and the discovery of contaminated soil on site.Prince Alfred Park Pool nearly ready City Hub Sydney 22 November 2012Dive into Prince Alfred Park Pool City of Sydney 13 May 2013Prince Alfred Park open at last City Hub Sydney 16 May 2013
In June 1979 the Eastern Suburbs railway line opened beneath the park.Eastern Suburbs Railway for Sydney Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 502 August 1979 page 173 In 2020 the Inner Sydney High School opened in the south-east corner.Inner Sydney High School completed project Government of New South Wales
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