Director of the Botanic Gardens, Joseph Henry Maiden compiled a 42-page paper on "The Parks of Sydney" which he delivered to the Royal Society on 4 June 1902.
Providing a schedule of Sydney's 207 "Public Parks and Recreation Reserves" set aside between January 1855 and April 1902, Maiden dealt with their administration, and how they were (or should be) planted, fenced and provided with paths, roads, seats, lights and other facilities, such as latrines, which were now provided "for women and children" in the Botanic Gardens, but not yet "in our parks, so far as I am aware".
Maiden stressed that above all, 'in this democratic country, parks "should be inviolable".
Their inalienability had to be rigorously guarded.
He noted that fortunately "the battle of Hyde Park has been fought and won.
Hyde Park will be immune from the builder and the railway constructor for a century, and if for so long, then it is safe for all time.
For each generation is wiser than the preceding one...".
He may, in retrospect, have been over-optimistic on these last two points.

After addressing the Royal Society, Maiden was asked by Sydney Council to report on the state of the reserves within the city.
He furnished an interim report in July 1903, before he had inspected Prince Alfred and Moore Parks, but many of his suggestions were of a general nature.
The Council should appoint a superintendent of parks: "trained professional gardeners, not labourers or handy men" should comprise the core of the staff; a nursery and depot were required; etc.
With improvements, Elizabeth Street could become "the noblest street in Sydney"...More latrines were generally needed, and if "a convenience for females" were provided in Hyde Park, say near Park Street, it would, I feel sure be a boon'.
His report went to Council in August 1903.

Control of Hyde Park was vested by the Department of Lands in the then Sydney Municipal Council in 1904.
A programme of upgrading began.
By 1905 illumination of the whole of Hyde Park had been completed.

In 1908 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets by 5.5 metres (18 ft) and 4.6 metres (15 ft).
In 1910 a bus shelter was constructed.

In 1910 Sydney's first women's' public lavatory was built in the park near the corner of Park and Elizabeth Streets.
It was considered a "failure" by Council due to low usage and was replaced in 1955.
In 1912 the park was redefined following the widening of College Street.
Mark Foys Emporium (south-west corner of Liverpool & Elizabeth Streets) was built in 1909 opposite the park.
This was one of the largest and grandest department stores in the city, growing over time to six stories.
When trains (i.e. after 1926) were the most popular method of goring to town the store thrived because of its proximity to the underground railway station.

In 1914 the sundial was repaired (its date of erection is not known).

In 1916 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Park Street.
In 1917 the Frazer Memorial Fountain was relocated to the north-east corner of the Pool of Remembrance.
The Emden gun, a four-inch gun salvaged from the German raider ship sunk off the Cocos Islands by HMAS Sydney in 1914, the first Australian naval ship to ship victory and one of the nation's earliest war trophies, was gifted from the Commonwealth Government and sited at Hyde Park on the corner of Oxford and College Streets.
In 1919 the bronze statue of scholar, patriot and politician William Bede Dalley was erected by public subscription in the park's north-east near Hyde Park Barracks.

An underground railway for the city was planned in 1916 but did not proceed until 1922.
The idea of building an underground rail network for Sydney was first mooted by engineer and Harbour Bridge designer Dr John Bradfield in 1913.
Government approved it and in 1916 work began on the first leg from Central to Museum and St. James.
Part of the park was fenced in 1916, however from 1922 onwards major excavation began and much of the western side and part of the centre of Hyde Park North was refashioned after co
Director of the Botanic Gardens, Joseph Henry Maiden compiled a 42-page paper on "The Parks of Sydney" which he delivered to the Royal Society on 4 June 1902. Providing a schedule of Sydney's 207 "Public Parks and Recreation Reserves" set aside between January 1855 and April 1902, Maiden dealt with their administration, and how they were (or should be) planted, fenced and provided with paths, roads, seats, lights and other facilities, such as latrines, which were now provided "for women and children" in the Botanic Gardens, but not yet "in our parks, so far as I am aware". Maiden stressed that above all, 'in this democratic country, parks "should be inviolable". Their inalienability had to be rigorously guarded. He noted that fortunately "the battle of Hyde Park has been fought and won. Hyde Park will be immune from the builder and the railway constructor for a century, and if for so long, then it is safe for all time. For each generation is wiser than the preceding one...". He may, in retrospect, have been over-optimistic on these last two points.
After addressing the Royal Society, Maiden was asked by Sydney Council to report on the state of the reserves within the city. He furnished an interim report in July 1903, before he had inspected Prince Alfred and Moore Parks, but many of his suggestions were of a general nature. The Council should appoint a superintendent of parks: "trained professional gardeners, not labourers or handy men" should comprise the core of the staff; a nursery and depot were required; etc. With improvements, Elizabeth Street could become "the noblest street in Sydney"...More latrines were generally needed, and if "a convenience for females" were provided in Hyde Park, say near Park Street, it would, I feel sure be a boon'. His report went to Council in August 1903.
Control of Hyde Park was vested by the Department of Lands in the then Sydney Municipal Council in 1904. A programme of upgrading began. By 1905 illumination of the whole of Hyde Park had been completed.
In 1908 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets by 5.5 metres (18 ft) and 4.6 metres (15 ft). In 1910 a bus shelter was constructed.
In 1910 Sydney's first women's' public lavatory was built in the park near the corner of Park and Elizabeth Streets. It was considered a "failure" by Council due to low usage and was replaced in 1955. In 1912 the park was redefined following the widening of College Street. Mark Foys Emporium (south-west corner of Liverpool & Elizabeth Streets) was built in 1909 opposite the park. This was one of the largest and grandest department stores in the city, growing over time to six stories. When trains (i.e. after 1926) were the most popular method of goring to town the store thrived because of its proximity to the underground railway station.
In 1914 the sundial was repaired (its date of erection is not known).
In 1916 Hyde Park was redefined following the widening of Park Street. In 1917 the Frazer Memorial Fountain was relocated to the north-east corner of the Pool of Remembrance. The Emden gun, a four-inch gun salvaged from the German raider ship sunk off the Cocos Islands by HMAS Sydney in 1914, the first Australian naval ship to ship victory and one of the nation's earliest war trophies, was gifted from the Commonwealth Government and sited at Hyde Park on the corner of Oxford and College Streets. In 1919 the bronze statue of scholar, patriot and politician William Bede Dalley was erected by public subscription in the park's north-east near Hyde Park Barracks.
An underground railway for the city was planned in 1916 but did not proceed until 1922. The idea of building an underground rail network for Sydney was first mooted by engineer and Harbour Bridge designer Dr John Bradfield in 1913. Government approved it and in 1916 work began on the first leg from Central to Museum and St. James. Part of the park was fenced in 1916, however from 1922 onwards major excavation began and much of the western side and part of the centre of Hyde Park North was refashioned after co
Hyde Park, Sydney