Eternity

Yesterday I mentioned how important Sydney sandstone is, as a feature of the city's historic and heritage buildings. One of the largest examples is Sydney's Central Railway Station.  

Before the days of Opal cards and massive computer systems, purchasing a railway ticket was an entirely manual process and required the use of a cavernous sandstone "booking hall" at the "country concourse". These days the facility is out of a job and has been re-purposed as the "Eternity Cafe". Lining the walls are these fabulous NSWGR (i.e. New South Wales Government Railways) stained glass windows, most of which date from 1905.

From the mid 1930s until his death in 1967, a famous graffiti artist, named Arthur Stace had wandered the streets of Sydney with chalk, writing "Eternity" in a virtually unique copperplate hand (see the cafe's illuminated sign as Extra 1). It appeared literally thousands of times over the years, adorning railway stations, bridges, footpaths, roads, walls etc etc. To have a genuine "Eternity" on one's property ultimately became a mark of distinction until it finally faded away. Indeed a couple of books and television documentaries have since been produced, about the man himself.

At the official 1999 millennial firework celebrations, the display ended with an enormous glowing "Eternity" across the harbour bridge .. in tribute to Arthur Stace and in recognition of humanity's enigmatic future. (Extra 2)