No Images? Click here REGIONAL NSW TOURISM GETS NRL BOOST IN 2019Regional NSW is set to benefit from more visitors and more visitor expenditure as it prepares to host three NRL Premiership matches in 2019, as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to take major sporting events to the bush. Destination NSW, the Government’s tourism and major events agency, has partnered with the NRL to assist in the promotion of the matches that will be played in Mudgee, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall today joined Member for Dubbo Troy Grant and Mid-Western Regional Council Mayor Des Kennedy to announce the dates for next year’s matches. “The NSW Government is committed to ensuring every corner of NSW gets its fair share of the record tourist dollars and investment coming into our State and major sporting events are an excellent way to drive more visitors to the regions,” Mr Marshall said. “Regional NSW has the facilities required to host major sporting events and I am delighted the NSW Government has partnered with the NRL to showcase the best of the NRL in regional NSW.” The host teams and dates for the regional 2019 NRL Premiership Games are: - Bathurst: Penrith Panthers, Round 3, Saturday 30 March - Mudgee: St George Illawarra Dragons, Round 10, Sunday 19 May - Wagga Wagga: Canberra Raiders, Round 8, Saturday 4 May. Image: L-R: Mid-Western Regional Council General Manager, Brad Cam, Dugald Saunders, Dragons ambassador, Matt Cooper, Minister Marshall and Mid-Western Regional Council Mayor, Des Kennedy. DAVID GOLDBLATT EXHIBITION OPEN NOWAs part of the Sydney International Art Series, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is presenting a major retrospective of the late South African photographer David Goldblatt, with the exclusive Photographs 1948 – 2018 exhibition opening at the MCA this week. David Goldblatt: Photographs 1948 - 2018 displays 357 works spanning seven decades of Goldblatt’s illustrious career. Goldblatt was renowned for his portrayal of South Africa during the rise and dismantling of apartheid. NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said, “This landmark exhibition for the MCA offers a rare glimpse into the remarkable life and legacy of David Goldblatt. Throughout his career, his photos were the sobering display of racial divide in South African society, capturing everyday life throughout the traumatic decades of apartheid.” The Sydney International Art Series is an event created by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, in collaboration with the Art Gallery of NSW and MCA, which brings the world’s most outstanding artists and their works exclusively to Sydney. Masters of Modern Art from the Hermitage opened at the Art Gallery of NSW last weekend, featuring 65 works from the Hermitage Museum’s collection. For booking information, click here. Image credit: David Goldblatt - Young men with dompas THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF SUSSEX WELCOMED TO NSWTheir Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were welcomed to Sydney this week and greeted by Australia’s Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), Lady Cosgrove and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian during a reception at Admiralty House. Representatives from the 18 countries competing in the Invictus Games also welcomed the Royal couple at the start of their 10-day visit to Australia. After the short reception at Admiralty House, Ms Berejiklian took the Royals on a tour of Taronga Zoo, where The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met their namesake koala joeys, Harry and Meghan - a wedding gift from the people of NSW. On Thursday, the Royal couple touched down in Dubbo and were greeted by Member for Dubbo Troy Grant, providing an opportunity to meet with the local community who have been affected by the recent drought. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have today continued their Sydney tour ahead of the 2018 Invictus Games. The Invictus Games kick-off on Saturday 20 October and conclude on 27 October, 2018. To purchase tickets, click here. Image credit: @kensingtonroyal 22ND SCULPTURE BY THE SEA, BONDI, NOW ONThe world’s largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, opened this week on Sydney’s spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. The iconic exhibition sees the coastline transformed into a 2km long sculpture park over three weeks featuring 107 sculptures by artists from 21 countries around the world. As one of Sydney’s best attended and photographed events, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi attracts approximately 450,000 visitors over the course of 18 days. A showcase of eight works by alumni from the leading Chinese art institution the Central Academy of Art (CAFA) in Beijing is one highlight of the exhibition, including a 3m tall fleshy figure, Horizon by Mu Boyan, which sits on the south Bondi headland at Marks Park. The exhibition also features works from leading Australian sculptors Hossein Valamanesh, Ron Robertson-Swann OAM and Wendy Teakel. The exhibition is free to the public and runs until Sunday 4 November, 2018. For more information, click here. Image caption: WendyTeakel_LandPlaceSite FINAL CAST ANNOUNCED FOR CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORYThe leading cast members of the highly-anticipated musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have been announced, with four Sydney boys to share the role of Charlie. Oliver Alkhair, Tommy Blair, Xion Jarvis and Ryan Yeates will share the role in Roald Dahl’s tale, playing at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 5 January, 2019. In other key roles, Willy Wonka will be played by Paul Slade Smith, currently performing in My Fair Lady at New York’s Lincoln Center; Grandpa Joe will be immortalised by Aussie showbiz royalty, Tony Sheldon, star of Priscilla Queen of the Desert; while Mrs Bucket will be performed by Lucy Maunder, who starred in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said, “Securing the Australian premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory further cements Sydney as the home of musical theatre and we can’t wait to see Charlie, Willy Wonka, Grandpa Joe and Mrs Bucket take the stage." To purchase tickets, click here. Image caption: L-R: Tommy Blair, Ryan Yeates, Oliver Alkhair and Xion Jarvis who will share the role of Charlie Bucket, and Lucy Maunder (middle) who will play Mrs Bucket. Image credit: Peter Brew-Bevan. NEW FULLERTON HOTEL TO OPEN IN SYDNEY'S GPO BUILDINGSingaporean hotel group, The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts, will next year expand to Australia through a takeover and re-brand of The Westin Sydney at Martin Place. Fullerton Hotels currently operates two properties in Singapore’s waterfront Bay Precinct with the new Sydney hotel set to be the group's first overseas property, representing another phase in Sydney's hotel boom. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore General Manager Cavaliere Giovanni Viterale said he was delighted the luxury brand would soon be calling Sydney its home. “The Fullerton Hotel Sydney will become a sister hotel to The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, both of which share a similar rich history as former GPOs. "We strive to deliver a luxury hotel that can further contribute to Sydney’s growth as an international tourist destination and showcase the beauty and heritage of the original building to a wider audience, both nationally and globally," he said. Tourism Accommodation Australia has forecast that 11,000 rooms will be added to the Sydney hotel market, largely as a result of the surge in international visitors to Sydney. 2018 NSW TOURISM AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCEDThe exceptional quality of tourism operators across NSW were acknowledged this week with the official announcement of finalists for the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards. Managed by the NSW Business Chamber and supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, the Awards celebrate and acknowledge tourism businesses that demonstrate achievement in areas such as Tourist Attractions, Festival and Events, Ecotourism, Destination Marketing, Accommodation, Tourism Education and Training. NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall congratulated the finalists. “Our tourism industry is at the forefront when it comes to delivering quality products and experiences and I congratulate the 2018 NSW Tourism Awards finalists for contributing to our position as Australia’s premier State for tourism and events.” Winners will be announced at the NSW Tourism Awards Presentation Night on Thursday 22 November at Luna Park, Sydney. Congratulations to the 12 graduates of the Destination NSW New Product Workshop who have made the finalists’ list. To view the list of 125 finalists, click here. SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE ENJOYS ANOTHER MILESTONEThe Sydney Harbour Bridge celebrated another milestone this week with the opening of state-of-the-art lifts at both the Southern and Northern ends of the bridge, allowing pedestrian access for everyone. The bridge can now be accessed at The Rocks and Kirribilli, without climbing more than 60 stairs to reach the footpath of the bridge. The new lifts can take 27 people or two wheelchairs and/or those in mobility scooters. Construction for the lifts began in March 2018 and cost $15 million. HUNTER VALLEY TO SHINE ON SYDNEY WEEKENDERThe Hunter Valley will feature on Channel Seven’s travel show Sydney Weekender as part of the Government’s efforts via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, to drive visitation to drought-affected NSW regions. On 21 October the new 10km Heritage Road Cycle Way, Ironbark Hill Brewhouse and Yellow Billy Restaurant will feature, while on 28 October Baume Restaurant and Mr Busby’s at Dalwood Estate will be showcased. Tune into Channel Seven at 5.30pm on 21 and 28 October to watch. PRIZE FOR THE BEST JACARANDA PHOTO IN PADDINGTONAs NSW’s famed Jacarandas burst into their purple bloom, the Intersection Paddington is offering a $5,000 shopping spree for the best Instagram Jacaranda Tree photo at Victoria Barracks Lawn, Oxford Street in Paddington. The Intersection is one of Sydney’s luxury shopping precincts, with a cluster of top Australian designers located in the chic tree-lined corner of historic Paddington. The competition will be judged by talented photographer, Rex Dupain. Click here to enter. |