Great Writers, Great Views: A Special Experience Awaits Book-Lovers on Sydney’s Harbour-side Walk of Fame…

It’s Sydney’s own walk of fame, but rather than celebrate Hollywood movie stars, this treasure hunt of sixty brass plaques celebrates writers. Located between the Opera House and the Rocks, the Sydney Writers Walk is a trail of plaques set into the pavement, containing excerpts of each author’s writing as well as a brief biography. It includes Australian authors such as Peter Carey, Oodgeroo Noonuccal, May Gibbs, Patrick White and Thea Astley.

Ethel Turner’s plaque states that “In Australia a model child is – I say it not without thankfulness – an unknown quantity…” while Barry Humphries’ brass disc contains an ode to the meat pie.

Also on the list are overseas authors who visited Sydney, or wrote about Sydney, such as D. H. Lawrence, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson and Charles Darwin.

Rudyard Kipling visited in 1891 and later wrote, “Sydney . . . was populated by leisured multitudes all in their shirt-sleeves and all picnicking all the day. They volunteered that they were new and young, but would do wonderful things some day.”

Some of the plaques need updating – a number of writers listed as still living are now deceased. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful way to celebrate writers while taking in one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. Next time you’re visiting Circular Quay, hit the pavement and do the Sydney Writers Walk. After all, it’s a wonderful thing to do.