The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
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Sydney's hydrofoils
Hydrofoil in Sydney Harbour, 1970. Pic: Mark Faviell / Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/markfaviell/5601046844) A couple of weeks ago when I was last in, I commented upon the hydrofoil footage in David Bowie's film clip China Girl and it transpired that…
New tour! Sydney Harbour Islands
Bennelong Point c1804, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (a1528483 / V1/1810/1) The Dictionary of Sydney has launched a new tour! Following on from Convict Parramatta, we can now explore Sydney’s harbour islands on our mobile devices, from the Royal Australian…
David Bowie's Sydney film clips
Scene in the Strand Arcade 1982. Contributed by National Archives of Australia [A6180, 13/12/82/18] Well, it's a sad opening to 2016 for music fans with the gob-smacking announcement of the death of David Bowie on Monday night. So I thought we…
A year in review
wp-image-11751https://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/BodgieStyle.jpgBodgie Styles for Spring 1951 . Almost-deserted Sydney beach (except for pretty, dark-haired Joan Francis) was chosen by bodgie David Roper, 17, to air leopard-skin trunks, with tail. From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales [TN18]…
Sydney’s cultural life
Hyde Park, St James Parsonage Dispensary, afterwards the Mint, and Emigration Barracks 1842 by John Rae Credit: Dixson Galleries, State Library of NSW (a928373 / DG SV*/Sp Coll/Rae/16) We’re coming into the festival season, when our city seems to come alive…
Sydney's ocean pools
Bronte Baths c1880-1900 Credit: Tyrrell Photographic Collection, Powerhouse Museum (85/1285-223) It’s summertime and as the temperatures rise, Sydneysiders will no doubt be flocking to the city’s famous beaches. This morning for 2SER Breakfast, I thought I’d talk to Mitch about our love…
Woodford Academy
Staff and pupils of Woodford Academy c1910. Contributed by Blue Mountains City Library [Local Studies Collection PF1028] It’s holidaying season and a good time to venture beyond Sydney. A trip to the Blue Mountains is always a great idea, and the…
Bodgies and African American Influences in Sydney
If you're a square you'll have to get hep to bodgey language, March 1951. Bodgies and widgies have added to the headaches of the English language by inventing a whole tribe of new expressions. From the collection of the State…
Grace Bros and the Roselands Shopping Centre
A new Grace Bros regional store at Parramatta October 1939. By Sam Hood. From the Mitchell Library collection of the State Library of New South Wales [hood_09953 / Home and Away 9953] You might have heard that Roselands shopping centre turned…
Flashback to Sydney’s original trams
wp-image-11038https://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PedestriansandtramGeorgeSt1910.jpgBy Harvey, John Henry. Pedestrians and tram on George Street c1910. Image courtesy of the State Library of Victoria [H92.150/143] 470454/> By John Henry Harvey, Pedestrians and tram on George Street c1910. Image courtesy of the State Library of Victoria…