Richard Johnson Obelisk, Sydney, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Richard Johnson Obelisk is a stone monument in Richard Johnson Square, on Bligh Street in the Sydney central business district. It honours Richard Johnson, the first chaplain of the colony of New South Wales, who arrived with the First Fleet in 1788. It is a quiet corner of the city where the very early colonial story sits among modern office towers.

The story behind it

Richard Johnson sailed to Sydney Cove with the First Fleet as chaplain to the new settlement. He held the colony's earliest Christian services, often outdoors, in a settlement that had almost no permanent buildings. In the early 1790s he had a simple church built, reportedly at his own expense, in this part of town. It stood only a few years before it was destroyed by fire in the late 1790s.

Johnson was also known for caring about the practical side of colonial life, including farming and the welfare of the poor and the sick, not only worship. He returned to England in 1800. The obelisk and the square that carries his name keep his role in the founding years of Sydney in view.

What to look for

• The simple stone shaft of the obelisk itself, a classic memorial form that stands out against the glass and steel around it.
• The inscription on the monument, which names Richard Johnson and records his place as the colony's first chaplain.
• The contrast of scales, with a modest 18th century story sitting in the shadow of the surrounding office buildings.
• The street names nearby, such as Bligh, Hunter and Phillip, which all echo the people of the early colony.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about ten minutes for the obelisk and the square. It works best as one stop on a longer walk through the centre of the city.
• The square is an open public space on the street, so you can see it at any time without going inside anything. Morning on a weekday is busy with office workers, while weekends are much quieter.
• Martin Place, Chifley Square and the Museum of Sydney are all a short walk away, so you can combine them easily.
• If you want to pair the visit with a museum or other site, check current opening hours before you set out.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Sydney, AU lets you reach the obelisk on foot as one stop on a longer route through the city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Sydney Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. suits anyone who likes a detective theme with their sightseeing. You walk between real places in the centre, hear the story of each one, and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Lucky Treasure Hunt: The Golden Shamrock in Sydney turns the streets around Richard Johnson Square into a treasure hunt on foot. The app guides you from place to place, tells you about each one, and gives you a puzzle to solve there. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.