An attempt to visit every suburb in Sydney.

I've just looked up the meaning of glade and received the following definition: an open space in a wood or forest. Lets see if the villa...

Glades for Days: Gladesville

I've just looked up the meaning of glade and received the following definition: an open space in a wood or forest. Lets see if the village of glades lives up to its very serene definition. 

Gladesville

Gladesville is another suburb in the very roughly defined Northern Sydney. If you've been reading along, you won't be surprised to know that it borders my previous suburb, Tennyson Point. I drove in and stopped in this car park. 


The car park is by this block of flats, 

and the very cool, heritagey Gladesville Public School. 

I followed this funky street past the school, 

with some educational street tiles, 

to reach a little plaza in Gladesville town centre. 

This plaza features the sandstone gates to the school, 

and a mural, 

which is very popular with the local birds. 

Gladesville town centre suffers the same fate as many Sydney town centres, losing much of its appeal by the fact that it sits on the busy Victoria Road. This means that rather than a pedestrian friendly place to stroll, you have things that look like this. 

Regardless, I was here (with Mrs Completing Sydney) for lunch. We chose the Sydney staple - a Lebanese chicken shop - today, stopping at a place called Tango. 

Lunch was a chicken roll and falafel roll, one of them in a meal. 

The interesting thing about a "meal" here, is that rather than just chips, you get chips as in fries, and chips as in (home-made) crisps, as well as a single falafel. While we're on the topic, why has Australian English chosen to name both food items chips? I think as a country we should decide on either the American or British fried potato food naming convention. Perhaps the government should organise a plebiscite so that we as a country can decide which we prefer. 

Anyway. The falafel wrap was tasty (note: always get chili with your falafel wraps, it brings it to the next level), 

as was the chicken wrap. 

Before heading off, it seemed prudent to take a bit of a stroll through Gladesville's Victoria Roadian CBD. 

Of interest is a formerly Retravision op-shop,  

and a newly developed high density bit, 

where this old clock tower happens to be. Apparently, I was here at 3:37PM. 

I headed back down the sunkissed alley and to another bit of the suburb. 

Ta da. 

As you can see, next stop was residential Gladesville, where people seem to live in big North Shorey houses, such as these. 

And these. 

The main reason for specifically choosing this bit of suburban Gladesville is to head to some public green space that is supposed to be nearby. 

This meant heading down by these houses, 

and some stairs into the bush. 

This leads to a great wetland-bushland walking platform, 

I don't think this is especially gladey, but it's quite calming nevertheless. 

It also overlooks Parramatta River. 

Carrying on in search of a glade, 

revealed a beautiful slice of suburban bushland, 

including this bit. I'd say this one's a glade, right? 

The famous paths of Gladesville glades led me back onto the street. 

Where I was able to get to know the local fauna, such as this bush cat,

who was clearly well-fed enough to not care about the local bush turkeys. 

Also at street level is this aesthetic grassy patch. 

Here, I watched the birds perform one of the greatest interpersonal dramas of our age. 


Truly gripping. 

I returned to the car once more from a street named George. 

The third and final chapter of today's Gladesvillian adventures kick off here on yet another anonymous tree-lined street. 

This one features brick apartments, rather than fancy houses.

Here, I once again opted for some suburban bush-bashing. 

Places like this are honestly one of the greatest things about Sydney. Nestled into suburbia, you can enjoy a quiet little walk through the woods,

and you might even see a glade or two. 

This path leads to Gladesville's Banjo Paterson Park. 

This is a park named for the Australian poet who once lived here. Sadly, the serenity of the walk here ends with the sound of children screaming on play equipment. 

Regardless, this is still a very nice park, with gladesy places to have a picnic or BBQ, 

and a pretty swell riverside spot to sit and enjoy the afternoon sun. 

Also of interest here is a vintage bubbler nestled in the trees and probably covered in spiders, 

this rock with information on it, 

and a small dock. As a wee lad, my dad used to bring us here to go fishing. We never caught anything, which is probably for the best, you're not supposed to eat anything you catch west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge due to pollution (and I'm pretty sure the river wasn't any cleaner 20 years ago). 

The final point of interest here is this restaurant in an old house. This may have been Banjo Paterson's house. 

And this may be a statue of the fellow. 

I really don't do enough research for these. 

Anyway, Mrs Completing Sydney picked me up from the park's car park, where I spotted a truly special parking job by BKJ03H. If you know who owns this car, send them this post. 

Anyway.

Gladesville: As advertised. 


7 comments:

  1. I'm still enjoying your roaming and your commentary.

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  2. The photo below the fishing anecdote is quite good man!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks - a bit of afternoon sun can do wonders.

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  3. You forgot to explore the best part, Gladesville Hospital!

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    Replies
    1. Ooh it does seem pretty cool

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    2. Was just going to say that too: the hospital is the best bit and you just looked at the entrance!

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