Matthew Flinders Statue, Sydney, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Matthew Flinders Statue stands on Macquarie Street in Sydney, beside the State Library of New South Wales. It honours the English navigator who led the first voyage around the whole coast of Australia and helped bring the name Australia into general use. It is a quick, free stop on one of the city's grandest historic streets.

The story behind it

Matthew Flinders was a Royal Navy officer, born in Lincolnshire in 1774. Between 1801 and 1803 he sailed the Investigator around the Australian coastline and charted it, proving it was one continuous landmass. He argued that the continent should be called Australia, and that name gradually replaced the older New Holland.

His return home was far from smooth. He was detained on Mauritius for years by the French authorities, and he died in London in 1814, not long after his account of the voyage was published. His cat Trim sailed with him and is remembered in a small statue of its own near the library, so look for the pair of memorials in the same area.

What to look for

• The figure of Flinders in bronze, shown as a naval explorer, which makes a good photo against the sandstone of the library behind it.
• The inscription and plinth, which tell you who is being honoured and place him in Sydney's story of exploration.
• The sandstone building of the State Library of New South Wales next door, one of Macquarie Street's most dignified frontages.
• The small statue of Trim the cat, which pays tribute to Flinders' loyal companion at sea.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 10 to 15 minutes for the statue itself, longer if you also want to walk around the library grounds.
• Morning light is kind to the sandstone and the street is calmer before the lunchtime rush.
• The statue stands outdoors on a public street, so you can see it at any time. Check current opening hours if you want to go inside the State Library.
• Macquarie Street is lined with historic buildings, and the Royal Botanic Garden and the harbour are a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape in Sydney is a good way to meet this statue as one stop on a longer walk through the area. The app tells you about each place when you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in The Rocks, Sydney suits anyone who likes a mystery theme with their history. You reach the statue on foot as part of the route, hear about it from the app, and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Sydney, AU is another self-guided option that passes this spot. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and each stop comes with a short story and a puzzle. One ticket covers the whole group.