An open area spanning many hectares, the Domain defines the eastern margin of the Sydney central business district.
The Domain encompasses the Royal Botanic Gardens and falls under the supervision of the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust, which is a wing of the New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation.Due to the size its expanse, The Domain is a popular place site for public gathering, outdoor performances and public rallies. The Domain: History In 1788 the area on which the Domain, Sydney stands today was marked out by Governor Philip as the site for his farmhouse. The unyielding soil forced the farm house to be moved to Parramatta, while the land was leased out. In 1808 Governor Bligh’s efforts to reclaim the land culminated in the Rum Rebellion. In the subsequent years, under Governor Macquarie’s rule, the Domain was restored to the government. It was the 1830s that the Domain was laid open for the public. The grateful people responded with picnics and long strolls in the park. In the 1850s, the Domain’s function from a mere public park increased manifold. It was now used for sporting, military and high profile political discussions.
During the late nineteenth century, the imminent expansion of Sydney, which was growing as a city, threatened to encroach on the boundaries of the Domain. The construction of the Green Palace for the occasion of International Exhibition of 1879 resulted in a large portion of the Domain being trenched. The Domain: Features Mrs Macquaries Point in the Domain is one of the most famous spots in the Domain since it offers a splendid view of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Mrs Macquaries Chair was especially carven from stone to enable Governor Lachlan Macquarie's wife to watch the passing ships. Macquaries Chair, which connects Farm Cove to Mrs Macquarie Road, is regarded as the place where Queen Victoria first set her foot in Australia. There is a memorial plaque to mark the event. The Speaker’s Corner, named after a similar forum in Hyde Park, is a popular gathering place. Anyone can walk up to the podium and express his ideas. The Speaker’s Corner in the Domain represents the spirit of free speech in Sydney.
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