Hollo's Harbour Reflections – Sydney in Vibrant Pastel (Part 2)
Oil pastel artist Nick Hollo has spent two decades producing drawings that distil why the Harbour Trust's destinations in Sydney have become beacons of inspiration for so many
We hope you enjoy this special, two-part exhibition featuring drawings by Nick Hollo that depict the Harbour Trust’s network of natural and built environments in vibrant oil pastel.
In this second instalment, you’ll dive into Nick’s striking artworks and journey through unique terrains spanning the northern and eastern suburbs of Sydney as well as the largest island on Sydney Harbour.
The artist has contributed commentary, detailing what he sought to evoke with his many colourful drawings.
Hidden gems, now revealed
Although Harbour Trust sites can be enjoyed in isolation, Nick says considering each within the wider context of Sydney Harbour offers a deeper appreciation.
Sydney Harbour in Morning Light (2001) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
Sydney Harbour
“The Harbour is a flooded river valley, winding inland, and its sandstone layers slope westward,” the artist explains.
“So, unlike a river delta, the high ground is coastal, and the land becomes gentler as it progresses inland.”
“The waterways and high, benched shoreline offer a natural fort for the city and the industrial heartland."
"Each Harbour Trust site plays a vital role in this expansive water and landscape.”
North Head Overview – A Tied Island (2007) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
North Head Sanctuary
Known as Car-rang-gel by the Gayamagal People, North Head is located on the Manly Peninsula at the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
According to Nick, the parkland is emblematic of Port Jackson – its sheer cliffs and sandstone slopes acting as a gateway to this massive body of water.
“North Head Sanctuary is at the centre of Car-rang-gel. In my various drawings, I wanted to capture the sanctuary’s island-like quality, which is conducive of peace and calm, unlike the hubbub of the city in the near distance.”
View over the Eastern Banksia Scrub towards the Northern Beaches (2014) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“The dunes of North Head support one of Sydney’s few remaining areas of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub."
I love the way this undulating, untamed bushland catches the light.”
Military Order in the Midst of the Bushland at North Head (2004) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“A stark contrast is presented by the Barracks Precinct and surrounding military installations, embedded in the dunes and sheltered by bushland."
"A key landmark is the red gravel Parade Ground. It’s like a piece of Central Australia, incongruously lobbed onto this coastal sanctuary.”
Looking Over Successive Headlands and Bays (2006) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
Headland Park
Located in Mosman, which is Borogegal Country, Headland Park has three precincts – Chowder Bay, Georges Heights, and Middle Head/Gubbuh Gubbuh. The area’s diverse landscape, including its numerous outlooks, is something Hollo sought to depict across multiple works.
Angophoras Clinging onto the Rocky Escarpment (2003) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“What excites me about Headland Park is the ability to see North and South Head as well as the surrounding bays, the Pacific Ocean, and the CBD,” he explains.
“Walking along the various coastal tracks, peering through the trees to the world beyond… the view is always changing, giving the illusion of being in a totally different environment at any given location.”
Georges Heights Fortifications (2012) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“The winding escarpment of Georges Heights, including the military remnants at Georges Head Lookout, provides harbour views. By creating a coastal walk along Georges Heights escarpment, the Harbour Trust filled a missing link in the harbour foreshore walk."
Best Avenue on the Georges Heights Plateau (2005) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“Set back from this escarpment – away from the wooded slopes and nestled against the suburbs – is a series of former military buildings. Modest and sparsely landscaped, they reflect the light beautifully and have been sympathetically repurposed to support diverse businesses."
"The area is also defined by important social spaces, including squares, laneways, parks and the Headland Park Artist Precinct.”
Middle Head Barracks in Early Morning Light (2013) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“Continuing down the peninsula to Middle Head, you can glimpse the harbour between a cluster of basic structures. The red brick buildings of the former 10 Terminal military complex capture the morning light."
"Meanwhile, the shaded courtyards of the former Australian School of Pacific Administration lend a tropical quality to the area."
Chowder Bay Contrasts (2005) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“Chowder Bay exists at the base of the hillside leading to Georges Heights. The buildings are both enveloped by bushland and situated on the foreshore and, with its sandstone seawall and palisade fence, it’s reminiscent of a Mediterranean, seaside village."
"The calm, clear waters make Chowder Bay a perfect location for marine science, and when naval vessels occasionally dock at the fuelling station, they provides a dramatic contrast in scale."
The Corner of Biloela House (2010) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
Cockatoo Island / Wareamah
Nick’s ferry trips to Cockatoo Island were rarely uneventful. Frequently, as the island loomed ahead, there was a flurry of pen and pastel strokes on paper as its complex terrain and patina gradually emerged.
Silent Cranes, Sutherland Dock (2009) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
The island – a “Jumble of shapes and spaces of varying scale” – continued to worm its way into Nick’s mind (and onto his sketch pad) once he’d arrived.
Cutaway Workshops and Cliffs beckoning an Urban Plaza (2000) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“I was intrigued with how the island was carved and re-shaped by the maritime industry,” he explains.
Southern Apron Workshops and Cranes, Cockatoo Island (c. 2002 to 2004) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“The former shipbuilding facilities – including the skeletal-like Turbine Shop – were cheek by jowl with elegant, convict era sandstone buildings, including the houses set amidst gardens on the plateau.
Collage of Nick Hollo oil pastel drawings completed between 2000 and 2015 Nick Hollo Artwork Collage (2005-2015) (July 2022) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“Meanwhile, the cranes, through their graceful silhouettes and reflections, stood as silent reminders of the once animated dry docks.”
“I remain fascinated by the juxtaposition between the convict and maritime remnants, which has created new, unusual spaces, and the unexpected way in which pockets of bush have re-emerged in precarious places."
Happy New Year on Cockatoo Island (2010) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“The island connects to the waterways and homelands of the Wallumedegal, Wangal, Cammeraygal and Gadigal Peoples and is undoubtedly an important place for First Nations Peoples, who know it as Wareamah.”
“Ultimately, the island is a vital, living precinct with no singular identity or land use. The various historic spaces lend themselves to social and creative uses. It’s unlike anywhere else in Sydney.”
A Public Vantage Point at a Working Dockyard in Woolwich (2015) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
Woolwich Dock
On the foreshore opposite Cockatoo Island is Woolwich Dock. It is at the junction of Parramatta and Lane Cove Rivers, and the Wallumedegal People call the area Moocooboola (‘the meeting of the rivers’). Nick describes the landmark as an "awe-inspiring slice of living history".
“Completed in 1901, Woolwich Dock is a grand dry dock, wrapped in bush and culminating in a mysterious cave,” he explains.
The Cave Carved Out of the Cliffs at Woolwich Dock (2000) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“The cave is evidence of the engineering works that carved the headland to form cliffs. Situated above it is a lookout that offers a bird’s eye view of the tradespeople who continue to operate the dock. The Harbour Trust worked to revive this maritime activity."
“The Harbour Trust opened a circuit trail, which leads people along the dock and through the cave, and enables them to see boat maintenance and repairs in progress.”
Reflections of the Former Platypus Buildings from Across Neutral Bay (2015) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
Sub Base Platypus
Located in North Sydney, which is Cammeraygal Country, Sub Base Platypus is an emerging community recreation and work hub. From 1876 to 1999, the site variously operated as a gasworks, a torpedo factory, and a submarine base known as HMAS Platypus.
According to Nick, the experience of entering the site, when it was first handed to the Harbour Trust, was like “entering a different world in a different time”.
“There was a cohesive group of large workshops, which made for an unusual presence on North Sydney’s foreshore,” he says. “Dating to the 1940s, the red brick structures formed interesting laneways and plazas, and the way their facades reflected on the water was captivating."
Cut Sandstone Cliff at HMAS Platypus (2006) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“These buildings were accommodated by cutting into sandstone, which created a dramatic cliff and the broad apron. A small building perched incongruously on a ledge midway up the cliff is a reminder of the site’s former function as a gasworks."
“A remnant of the site’s original rocky shoreline is visible at the base of the Former Torpedo Factory building from the overwater walkway leading to Kesterton Park.”
Panorama of Sydney Harbour from Macquarie Lighthouse (Present Day) (2013) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
Macquarie Lighthouse & the former Marine Biological Station
Macqarie Lighthouse Sitting Proud Above the Cliffs (2001) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
The Harbour Trust protects two heritage landmarks in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs: Macquarie Lightstation at Vaucluse, and the former Marine Biology Station at Camp Cove.
Macquarie Lightstation is the site of Australia’s first lighthouse. Completed in 1818, Macquarie Lighthouse was designed by a convict architect for the Governor of NSW. Owing to crumbling foundations, it was reconstructed in the 1880s.
Macquarie Lighthouse in Moonlight (2003) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
"Located along the Federation Cliff Walk, the Macquarie Lighthouse has been a reassuring beacon for ships at sea and those navigating Sydney Cove since the 1800s,” Nick says.
Panorama of Sydney Harbour from Macquarie Lighthouse (Present Day) (2013) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“The lighthouse’s balcony offers a timeless spectacle. The tilt of Sydney’s topography, viewed from that height, provides an exaggerated perspective of the harbour."
Panorama of Sydney Harbour from Macquarie Lighthouse (c. 1788) (2013) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“Prior to the Harbour Bridge, Me-Mel (Goat Island) would have been a distant focal point. Here, I sought to recreate how the landscape would have appeared from this vantage point pre-colonisation, restoring Me-Mel – which means ‘eyes’ – as a point of interest."
The Former Marine Biology Station Overlooking the Waters of Camp Cove (2004) by Nick HolloSydney Harbour Federation Trust
“A short distance from Macquarie Lightstation is a humble sandstone cottage, overlooking the secluded beach at Camp Cove. It was established in 1881 as a marine biological station for a Russian scientist and polymath."
The Harbour Trust returned part of the cottage’s garden to the community as a park. Snorkelling and diving are popular at Camp Cove's beach, continuing the area’s association with marine biology.”
“The sand at Camp Cove has more in common with sand found on the Northern Beaches, meaning it is unique amongst the beaches of Eastern Sydney in the way the sand contrasts with the water. Meanwhile, Green Point and the tide gauge pavilion frame the distant city.”
We trust you enjoyed the second instalment in our two-part exhibition, Hollo's Harbour Reflections – Sydney in Vibrant Pastel.
If you haven't already, we invite you to check out the first instalment. It introduces the prolific artist, highlights his work with the Harbour Trust, and sheds light on his artistic process.
Click here to read or revisit Part One.
Special thanks: The Harbour Trust wishes to thank Nick Hollo, for his text and visual contributions to this exhibition. We also thank specialist fine art photographer, Greg Weight, for producing high-quality digital reproductions of Nick’s work, enabling us to share them widely.
Harbour Trust — Extraordinary Places on the World's Best Harbour
Helpful links
1. About the Harbour Trust
2. Visit our extraordinary places
3. The stories of our historical sites
4. Harbour Trust 20th Anniversary
5. Nick Hollo, Sydney Artist
6. Greg Weight Photography
