The well-known Ryde Park Rotunda Bandstand has been given a new lease of life with a restoration that connects its 75 year old heritage to the present day through memories of the local community and park users.
At the early planning stage, residents were invited to become involved in the process and they, together with others from the Ryde Historical Society, volunteered their time to work with artists on the design and development of the Rotunda floor.
The first task for the community members was to review the archives for historical information, but also to recount their own memories of the Rotunda and general park area. This information was then provided to the artists to include in the design palette.
The result is an evocative new floor design reflecting a wisteria pattern in grey and rose coloured granite. Etched into the granite is a collection of images and written anecdotes that capture collective memories of Ryde Park.
The Mayor, Clr Vic Tagg, who will meet members of the community, artists and craftsmen at an informal gathering this week, said: “It is wonderful to see this icon of our heritage brought back to life in such a unique way. This is a fine piece of public art that both intrigues young minds and triggers fond memories.
“The Rotunda Bandstand is real landmark to us all and the involvement of the community in its renovation brings a strong sense of ownership and pride in our public spaces.
“This is the product of a good partnership between the Council, the community and the developers of Top Ryde City who part-funded this work as part of the $6m upgrade of Ryde Park.”
